WHEN John Dorczak fills out his Women’s Strikers team sheet each Sunday, four surnames take up the majority of the space.
In what is believed to be a first for the Strikers club, four sets of siblings are playing in the same team, with Anna and Sarah Godman, Kristen and Jessica Leak, Sophie and Lucy McGlynn and Morgan and Abi Paterson all part of the 2010 squad.
It’s not unusual for all eight to be out on the pitch together, forcing opposition players to take a second look, even more so in the case of the Paterson girls who are identical twins.
Morgan and Abi are in their first season with the Strikers, having graduated from the town’s junior ranks.
Tall, athletic and quick on their feet, the duo has often formed the front line of the Strikers attack and both have a number of goals to their names.
Anna and Sarah Godman are no strangers to the Strikers colours, both sharing in the euphoria of the 2008 grand final triumph over arch-rivals Wagga United.
Twenty-one -year-old Anna is one of the ‘senior stateswomen’ of the side, having begun her career in 2005 and notching up her 100th game earlier this season.
A determined defender, one of Anna’s greatest assets is her speed as she often beats her rival to any balls that may have pierced the Strikers’ midfield, while she is equally adept when she pushes forward in search of goal.
After claiming the 2008 title, Sarah spent last
season playing for Bathurst Panthers, but returned to the fold in 2010 to play alongside her sister.
Gifted in the skills department, Sarah’s ball
control through the midfield is possibly the best within the side and her willingness to offload passes to teammates in space shows an unselfishness that only certain players possess.
The progression Kristen Leak has made in past seasons is reflected in the confidence Dorczak has shown in her by handing her the captain’s armband this year.
Also a member of the 2008 premiership winning side will finish the season with close to 70 club games to her name and, provided she remains in town after completing her schooling, could also become a member of the Centurian club.
A mainstay of the Strikers’ defensive formation, Kristen’s communication at the back is vital as not only does she direct her younger teammates
around the park, her encouragement is also vital in developing their confidence.
Like the Paterson girls, 2010 represents the first season of senior soccer for Jessica Leak.
Having watched on from the sidelines for the past few years, Jessica was keen to take her place in the side and has made an immediate impact.
Her confidence on the ball and belief in her own ability belies her experience and she’s the type of player the Strikers can build a team around in future years.
The McGlynn girls have done things differently.
Initially it was the younger of the two Lucy who began playing, taking on the vital role of goalie as the Strikers qualified for yet another grand final last season.
Her talents aren’t restricted to in between the posts and she is often given a run in the field where she thrives on the opportunity to create chances for her teammates and at the same time shut down any threatening raids from the opposition.
Sophie McGlynn completes the octet having joined the club this year.
Her understanding of the game and skill level have noticeably increased since the start of the season and whenever she is called into action Sophie is determined to give her best.
The sibling act is nothing unusual for the Women Strikers and over the years several sets of sisters have played together including Helen and Kerry Speering, Lisa and Vanessa Izzard, Karen and Jenny Robinson, Belinda and Justine King, Tanya, Kahrina and Francine Dorczak, Donna and Megan Frichot, Kylie, Natalie and Melanie Giacomin, Lesley and Sarah Meadows, Cladia and Deanna Fallon and Grace and Ameila Spencer.
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