Gordon leads Aussie Schoolgirls to Dallas Cup win
They became the first non-American team to win the U19 girls Dallas Cup Invitational title.
Erin Gordon finished her second and final year with the U19 Australian Schoolgirls on the ultimate high in Texas on March 29, captaining the team to victory in the final of the prestigious 10-team Dallas Cup Invitational tournament.
To top it off, that day was the 2023 Moriah College year 12 graduate’s 19th birthday.
The Aussie schoolgirls had entered last year’s Dallas Cup for the first time, and had fallen at the very last hurdle, losing the 2023 decider 0-4, in a campaign where Gordon filled in as captain in two matches.
Honoured to be chosen as captain for the 2024 tournament, the skilful defender and 2022 Junior Matilda led them to two victories and a scoreless draw in the round robin stage, to advance to the finals without conceding a goal.
The Aussies then produced a confidence-boosting 3-0 semi-final win, and in a thrilling final, came back from behind to defeat FC Dallas Youth 2-1.
They became the first non-American team to win the U19 girls Dallas Cup Invitational title.
Arriving home last Sunday, Gordon told The AJN that all members of the team embraced at full-time, as their achievement started to sink in.
“It was a very special moment, as our team only had two weeks’ preparation, and most members of the squad hadn’t met before … now we can share this memory, and we’ve made lasting friendships,” she said.
“Of the three pools, we were in the hardest, so our round robin games were quite challenging, but I felt that prepared us well for the finals.
“Our coaches and physio were awesome, and had our objectives outlined from the start, helping us to play to our strengths.”
Gordon had captained Football NSW Institute’s team in the NPL NSW women’s season, but said captaining the Australian Schoolgirls was a different situation “because we were a very new team”.
“So my approach was to help the players bond and focus on improving each day.
“And to encourage the first-time players to take pride in earning the green and gold shirt, and not to worry too much if they make an error during a match, but instead focus on putting in the effort.”
In the final, the Australian Schoolgirls conceded a goal in the fifth minute, which Gordon said, “could have caused us to lower our heads, but instead, it motivated us to work harder for each other”.
The Aussies equalised about 10 minutes before half-time, and the score remained tied until the 76th minute when Australia scored and then defended stoutly to hold on for victory.
After the final, Gordon visited Harvard University in Boston to meet the coaching staff of their women’s Ivy League football team, whom she will play for, having secured enrolment in a four-year course commencing this September.
“I’m going to attend the team’s pre-season football training camp in August first, so I’m pretty excited,” she said.
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