Plate Final Triumph For Women’s Academy
- LCFC Women U21 Academy won the PGA Plate at Loughborough University
- Ava Baker and Sammy Kaczmar scored in the 3-0 win over Charlton
- The youngsters face Ansety Nomads in the County Cup Final on Thursday 9 May
Last weekend saw City’s Academy lift their first piece of silverware after gaining their Tier 1 Pro Game status for the 2023/24 season at Belvoir Drive.
Young star Ava Baker, who has made nine senior appearances this season, scored twice in the final in Loughborough, taking her tally to 10 this term for the Academy; Sammy Kaczmar also finding the net.
A 4-2 defeat after extra-time to Durham in the PGA Cup back in October confirmed Leicester’s fate in the Plate competition but it was smooth sailing from there, winning all three games in regular time on the way to the trophy.
This was kickstarted with a quarter-final win over Southampton just before Christmas, when Amya Hammond-McLean stole the show, scoring a hat-trick in the fixture.
This was then followed up with a semi-final victory against Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of the New Year, as Denny Draper, Nelly Las and Kiera Bell all netted twice in a convincing 6-2 display.
Keeping a clean sheet against Charlton on Sunday’s final means the young Foxes ended the competition with 13 goals scored, conceding just once in the early stages.
The trophy win comes at a good time for City, just days after their final PGA League Under-21 North Division fixture in which they drew 3-3 with champions Manchester United at home, confirming a second-placed finish.
An impressive turnaround in quick succession was no easy task for the Academy who now look forward to another final next month, when they take on Anstey Nomads in the County Cup on Thursday 9 May (7pm BST kick-off) at Holmes Park.