Shaked completes debut US college soccer season

Jake Shaked has come a long way since playing his first football match, aged seven, for Maccabi Western Australia (WA).

About to turn 19 next month, the tall, athletic and smart defender played almost 40 WA NPL Division 1 men’s matches for Mandurah City FC since 2020, represented WA in U19s, and was part of the Perth Glory Academy.

This July, he represented Australia in open men’s football at the Maccabiah Games, and in August he began a two-year US football scholarship in Texas with the Tyler Junior College Apaches.

Completing his debut college season on November 15, Shaked played in 17 matches, starting in six.

The Apaches won their conference, then the Region 14 (East Texas and north-western Louisiana) Championship final, to qualify for this month’s National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) men’s division 1 soccer tournament in Florida.

In that, they had a thrilling opening round 3-2 win over Otero College, before bowing out in the quarter-finals on November 15 with a 1-2 extra-time loss to Arizona Western College.

Shaked told The AJN on Sunday he feels very grateful for the opportunity to study in the US, and play football at a high level for the Apaches.

“It’s been an unreal experience, it’s great to be able to train and play alongside such talented players every day, and I’ve really enjoyed travelling to different places in the US for games.

“Due to the short and very intense US collegiate season, I’ve really learned the importance of managing my body, so that I’m able to perform to the best of my ability.

“I’m really looking forward to what the future holds.”