HELENSVALE TAKING GREAT STRIDES

HELENSVALE State High School students are kicking their way towards a national title after winning the South East Queensland Futsal title.

The 14-year-girls and 15year-boys teams were crowned regional champions and the 16 and 19-year-girls also qualified for the state futsaltTitles in July.

Helensvale girls will be chasing their third title this year after claiming the Australian Futsal title 14-years and 16-years in 2018.

The 14-year-girls dominated the tournament winning several games 6-1 before defeating St Andrews College.

The 15-year-boys defeated St Andrew College 4-3 in a nailbiting final to hoist the trophy.

Coach Lachlan McDonell had coached the players when they were in Year 7 and was confident in their abilities.

Mr McDonell said it was a tense final with the playing a strong St Andrews College.

“The boys started strongly however found themselves 3-1 down mid-way through the second half,” he said.

“Momentum can swing very quickly in futsal and fortunately for us we were able to score and get on a roll towards the end of the game.”

Mr McDonell said the boys had lost track of the score and thought they were going to extra time.

“It was a funny moment watching them realise they had actually won the game in the end,” he said.

Mr McDonell said the Helensvale Football Academy was proud of their efforts.

“This squad has been a long-term project and is now starting to see the rewards that come with hard work,” he said.