Pascoe stars as Pride claim title
Canterbury United Pride striker Holly Pascoe couldn’t have dreamt of a better end to her time at school.
The Burnside High Year 13 leaver slotted two well-taken goals in the national women’s final at English Park yesterday as the Pride beat Capital 2-0.
Pascoe, 17, turned the result the Pride’s way with pinpoint finishing either side of halftime to put them in the driver’s seat.
It was the third title in four years for Canterbury and went a long way to making up for the disappointment of last season, where they lost 4-3 to Northern at home.
Pascoe has been a revelation in her first season in the national league and might not be back to defend the title.
The Universities club player had several United States colleges she was ‘‘talking to a lot’’ and hoped to make a decision on her future soon.
She was quick to deflect praise to her team-mates and labelled the final victory her proudest moment in football.
‘‘It’s one of the best achievements. It’s pretty exciting. I haven’t really dreamt of anything like this,’’ Pascoe said.
Leading 1-0 at halftime, Pascoe doubled the Pride’s advantage after the ball fell to her in the box and she buried it past Capital goalkeeper Natasha Ingram.
The teams looked set to go into halftime scoreless, until Pascoe put Canterbury 1-0 ahead in the 43rd minute.
Pascoe delivered a perfect firsttime shot into the left of the net, following earlier leadup work from Annalie Longo and Aimee Phillips.
Pride coach Mike De Bono said Pascoe took her chances well in front of goal and would be one to watch in the coming years.
‘‘She’s been a standout for the year. She’s come into this environment all guns blazing.
‘‘She’s one New Zealand Football need to be looking at that top end. She’s got pace, aggression and she can finish.’’
The Pride have created a dynasty in domestic women’s football, making four straight finals and winning three titles.
It was the fourth title in succession for fringe Football Fern Phillips, who has won three titles with the Pride and one with Northern.
De Bono thought it might have been a rebuilding campaign this season with most of their squad at secondary school. Canterbury’s squad had played with maturity beyond their years. With the bulk of the side set to return, no respite is in sight for the rest of the league.
Capital could easily have gone into the main break with the lead with a promising chance 10 minutes from halftime.
Emma Main raced onto a through ball only to cannon her shot into the post. The ball bobbed out, but Capital were unable to fire into the empty goalmouth.
The Pride dominated possession in the first half, but couldn’t quite put it together in the attacking third, only really creating half chances until Pascoe’s goal.
Once the pain of the final subsides, Capital will look back on their season favourably, having improved hugely in 2016. Last season, they battled, finishing sixth out of eight teams.