Soccer
Soccer at St Mary's College: CSSA teams for Years 7–12 training Monday and Wednesday on the Lower Field, 1st XI Saturday fixtures, remaining Term 3 2026 draw, coaches, selection, gear and the Junior Friday competition.
Soccer at St Mary's has grown quickly over the past decade and now fields 11 Senior teams in the CSSA winter competition, with the boys' 1st XI and girls' 1st XI playing Saturday mornings. Years 3–6 play NDPSA soccer on Friday afternoons in Terms 2 and 3.
Who can play
- Senior (Years 7–12): boys' and girls' divisions at Junior (Years 7–8), Intermediate (Years 9–10) and Senior (Years 11–12) levels.
- Junior (Years 3–6): NDPSA small-sided soccer (7-a-side Years 3–4; 9-a-side Years 5–6).
Season
CSSA Winter season, Terms 2–3. Round 1 Wednesday 22 April 2026; Grand Final Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Training
| Day | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 3:30–4:45pm | Lower Field |
| Wednesday | 3:30–4:45pm | Lower Field |
Wednesday training follows the afternoon's fixture and is used for recovery, set pieces and goalkeeper work; players who have had an away game are back at the College by 3:25pm and train from 3:30pm. Students may be excused from Wednesday training by their coach after a long away trip.
Coaches and team structure
| Team | Year levels | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| Boys 1st XI (Saturday & Wednesday Senior A) | Years 10–12 | Mr Marco Bianchi (Head Coach, FFA C Licence) |
| Girls 1st XI (Saturday & Wednesday Senior Girls) | Years 9–12 | Ms Tash Petrovic |
| Senior B Boys | Years 11–12 | Mr James Whelan |
| Intermediate A, B Boys | Years 9–10 | Mr Kwame Asante |
| Intermediate Girls | Years 9–10 | Ms Tash Petrovic |
| Junior A, B Boys | Years 7–8 | Mr Kwame Asante, Mr David Okafor |
| Junior A, B Girls | Years 7–8 | Ms Olivia Chen |
Remaining Term 3 2026 fixtures — CSSA Wednesday (1:20–3:25pm)
Home games are on the Lower Field (start 1:50pm, 2 × 25-minute halves). Away buses depart the Senior gate at 1:20pm; away games start 2:00pm. Students return by 3:25pm.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Game time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 6 | Wednesday 26 August 2026 | Emmaus College | Away — Emmaus, Greenhaven | 2:00pm |
| Round 7 | Wednesday 2 September 2026 | Sacred Heart College | Home — Lower Field | 1:50pm |
| Semi Final | Wednesday 9 September 2026 | As per ladder | St Bede's College, Hillview (neutral) | 2:00pm |
| Grand Final | Wednesday 16 September 2026 | Winners of semis | Aquinas College, Kingsley Park (neutral) | 2:00pm |
Ladder after Round 5: Senior A Boys 2nd, Senior Girls 1st, Senior B Boys 5th, Inter A Boys 1st, Inter B Boys 4th, Inter Girls 3rd, Junior A Boys 3rd, Junior B Boys 6th, Junior A Girls 2nd, Junior B Girls 4th. Non-finalists play friendlies against Marian and Loyola in finals weeks.
Year 9 note: Year 9 students are away on City Experience in Week 8 and unavailable for Round 7.
Saturday fixtures — 1st XI Boys and Girls
| Date | Team | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 29 August 2026 | Boys 1st XI | Loyola College | Home — Lower Field | 9:00am |
| Saturday 29 August 2026 | Girls 1st XI | Loyola College | Home — Lower Field | 10:30am |
| Saturday 5 September 2026 | Boys & Girls 1st XI | Semi Finals | Kingsley Park Soccer Complex, Pitch 2 | 9:00am / 10:30am |
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | Boys & Girls 1st XI | Grand Finals (if qualified) | Kingsley Park Soccer Complex, Pitch 1 | 9:00am / 10:30am |
Arrive 45 minutes before kick-off. Parents transport players to away games.
What to bring
- Full sport uniform to school on Wednesdays; playing strip (navy and gold) is issued for the season and returned washed
- Shin pads — compulsory under long white socks; moulded boots (no metal studs)
- Drink bottle, small towel, hat and sunscreen for the sideline
- Goalkeepers: College supplies gloves and jersey; own gloves welcome
Wet weather
Soccer plays in rain. Games are called off only when the host venue closes its pitches, for lightning, on days of 35°C forecast at 9:00am, or Total Fire Ban. Cancellation notices go to the Parent Portal by 12:30pm Wednesday (Saturday: SMS by 7:00am). On cancelled Wednesdays, players do futsal in the Sports Centre until 2:45pm.
Selection
Trials in Week 1 of Term 2 run by the coaching panel. Everyone who trials is placed in a team. 1st XI squads (18 players) are named at the end of trials and reviewed at mid-season; players are told individually about any change.
Cost
Nil. Included in fees.
Junior (Years 3–6) Friday interschool soccer
NDPSA soccer runs Fridays 1:30–3:00pm in Terms 2–3. Teams: Year 3/4 Mixed A and B, Year 5/6 Boys, Year 5/6 Girls, Year 5/6 Mixed. Coaches: Mr Ahmed Saleh and Ms Bec Lawson. Remaining games: Friday 28 August v Ferntree Rise Primary (away, Ferntree Rise Reserve — bus departs 1:15pm) and NDPSA Soccer Gala Day Friday 11 September at Kingsley Park Soccer Complex. No sport Friday 4 September (Junior Athletics) or Friday 18 September. Shin pads compulsory. See Friday Interschool Sport; contact Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Contact
Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport — sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au — (03) 9555 0100.