Dunedin Technical served notice of its strength in junior women's football when it won the Auckland City invitational tournament at the weekend.
Technical's under-17 side was second in the inaugural tournament last year and was determined to go one better.
It scored a late goal, from talented midfielder Shontelle Smith, to beat Lynn Avon 1-0 in the final and claim the Ivy Vela Trophy.
In pool play, the young Dunedin women had wins over Glenfield (3-0), Bay Olympic (2-0) and Coastal Spirit (1-0).
Technical beat Claudelands 2-0 in the quarterfinal, before a 6-5 win on penalties over a highly-rated Three Kings side in the semifinal.
Tania Savery was the team's leading scorer, and Emma Paisley was the team's unexpected hero.
Technical goalkeeper Jade Middleditch was shown a red card in the semifinal. Three Kings took the lead from the resultant penalty and Paisley, a defender, took over the gloves.
Paisley did a fine job in her new role, saving a penalty in the shootout. She went on to keep a clean sheet in the final.
Graeme Smaill was the coach of the team, and Andrew Whittaker was the assistant coach.
There was also a Dunedin Technical under-17 men's team at the tournament.
It had a rough start, conceding 10 goals in three losses on the opening day.
But the Technical men rebounded with wins over Tauranga (1-0) and Manurewa (2-0) on day two, and a 5-4 win on penalties over Richmond in the bowl quarterfinal.
Dunedin was beaten 2-0 by Hamilton in the bowl semifinal.
The major men's final, between Ellerslie and Three Kings United, was tight, with the Auckland teams going in to the halftime break level 0-0.
It took late goals by Myer Crane and Ermal Fusha to give Ellerslie a 2-0 win to ensure the Arthur Egan Trophy was heading to Michael's Ave for the first time.
The tournament, hosted by the Auckland City club, featured 24 men's and 16 women's teams from around New Zealand.
Youth Football development Trust chair Greg Fahey was delighted with how the tournament progressed.
''The standard of football this weekend was superb and we are delighted a team from the South Island won the women's championship,'' Fahey said.
''We have been pleased with how well the tournament has been supported and can't wait to host these clubs here next year.''
Jake Porter (Onehunga Sports) and Sophia Dyer (Western Springs) were named the tournament's most valuable players.
Porter (six goals) and Leah Gubb (Claudelands Rovers, five) were golden boot winners.
• New Zealand exited the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup yesterday following a 3-0 loss to Japan in its final group C match in Costa Rica.
Needing a victory from the clash at the National Stadium to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive, the Young Football Ferns held the slick Japanese to 1-0 at halftime but conceded a penalty in the second half and let in a third goal right on fulltime.
