Saints Football retain national She Can She Will Cup

Fergus Knight
Thursday 13 April 2023

Saints Football Women’s 1st Team were crowned champions in the national Scottish Student Sport She Can She Will Cup this week (Wednesday 12 April) following a 4-1 victory in the final over Edinburgh’s 1st Team at Oriam – Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre in Edinburgh.

Playing against each other for the fourth time this season following two league encounters and a British cup meeting, Edinburgh made the more livelier start to the final but it was the St Andrews team who went on to win the final, claiming their fourth victory against their rivals and retaining the title they won last year.

First year Auburn Brenner put the Saints ahead in the twelfth minute with a flick across the Edinburgh goalkeeper following a Mandel-Mueller cross from the left. Rosalina and Mandel-Mueller both had shots on the Edinburgh goal whilst Helt had a header from close range that went past the post.

The game was end-to-end with Edinburgh having more of the ball in the first half, but St Andrews producing better chances. The Saints doubled their lead after 30 minutes when Mandel-Mueller slotted home from six yards out after a Rosalina corner.

Grogan had to make a good block inside the box right on half time as Edinburgh had threatened down the left hand side. Half time came with St Andrews 2-0 up.

The second half began with the Saints starting to gain more possession – a feature of their play during a highly successful season up to this point.

More chances came as Brenner and Roselli had attempts on the Edinburgh goal but in the 57th minute it was Edinburgh who pulled a goal back following a tremendous strike from the edge of the box that went in off the underside of the crossbar after an initial corner was cleared. The Saints responded well to this and continued to enjoy more of the ball. Roselli had another chance saved at the back post whilst Rosalina and Girt also had attempts to try and restore the two goal advantage.

The Saints’ third goal eventually came in the 76th minute. Helt did well to win the ball on the half way line. Drove with the ball at the Edinburgh defence before slipping a pass through for Girt to slot past the goalkeeper.

Two minutes later St Andrews scored again as Brenner made it a cup final double after being played in on goal to score. Brenner could have completed a hat trick right at the end of the game, but a good save denied her on this occasion.

The full time whistle went with the score at 4-1, with St Andrews retaining their title to make it a league and cup double following their BUCS Scottish 1A league win.
One game remains for the 1st Team as they host Nottingham Trent on Wednesday 26 April at 7:30pm for a place in BUCS Premier North league next season.

Captains Cally Wuthrich and Isabella Rosalina said: “After a hard-fought, 4-1 win against Edinburgh yesterday, we are so excited to have carried on our team’s legacy from last year and retained the She Can She Will cup for the first time ever. From losing in the cup final in 2014 to having the final match cancelled due to Covid in 2020, there’s a lot of personal history that comes along with this title and we couldn’t be prouder to add our name to the cup for the second year in a row.

“The win yesterday came not just from the 90 minutes of hard work during the game but from an entire season of dedication and passion from every single player on the team. As two fourth-year captains reflecting back on our time, for us, this cup is more than just a medal; it is a representation of just how far the women’s side of the football club has come in just a few short years and we are so grateful to have played a small part in that journey. We hope that this win will continue to inspire the team and look forward to seeing the University of St Andrews engraved on the cup for many years to come.” 

Director of Football, Stuart Milne said: “I am immensely proud that this team has managed to win the She Can She Will Cup for the second time and in doing so retain for the first time in the club’s history. This competition means a lot, not just to the 1st Team, but the club and wider community in inspiring young girls to play football. 

“It is always tough playing against Edinburgh and yesterday was no different but to be able to beat them in a final and for the fourth time in a season shows how hardworking and talented this group of players are. To retain the cup was a big goal we had set collectively at the start of the season and to achieve that is very satisfying. Not only have they retained the cup but for the second consecutive season they have made it a league and cup double, which matched by our Women’s 2nd Team who also won their respective league and cup, shows how far our club has progressed in recent years.

“Within our club our motto talks about legacy and being remembered. This current group of players are certainly doing that. It has been a long season but a thoroughly enjoyable journey and with one game still to play offers one last chance to add another chapter with promotion to BUCS Premier North for the first time for next season. I cannot speak highly enough about this squad of players – they deserve every success and recognition.” 

Starting team
A. Grogan
C. Wuthrich
A. Leahey
L. Mandel-Mueller
C. Schnitt
L. Helt
S. Girt
I. Roselli
V. Tran*
I. Rosalina
A. Brenner

Subs
R. Blacklock
I. Martling
K. Taylor
R. Xanders
H. Govan
E. Anderson

*Player of the game

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