The Graduates have a knack of taking their game to another level when it comes to the Richmond Adult Soccer Association’s Don Taylor League Cup.
For the second straight year the Graduates are cup champions and they did it in convincing fashion with a 4-0 win over West Coast FC last Sunday in a match-up of Division One heavyweights at the Minoru Oval.
A year ago the teams entered the final with West Coast FC holding down to spot in regular season play and the Graduates prevailing 3-1. The exact same scenario unfolded again.
“West Coast is top of the league and they are legit. Coming out and winning four nil is a helluva a thing,” smiled Graduates coach Mark Fletcher.
His squad wasn’t exactly at full strength either with just one sub available due to “guys hurt, guys away and guys celebrating 30-year-old birthdays.” Still the the limited roster certainly rose to the challenge for the first win in three tries against West Coast this season with a draw and a loss in regular season play.
The Graduates were launched a few years ago as a senior men’s option for players coming out of Richmond FC.
“We are here to help bring the youth players coming out into adult but this core has been here for a while,” added Fletcher whose squad sits third in league play with an 11-4 record.
West Coast will now turn its attention to a match next Friday against AC Richmond that will decide the regular season champion. Both teams own 13-2-0 records. It kicks off at 9 p.m. at Minoru.
RASA’s Soccer Sunday also included the unbeaten Old-Blacks continuing their dominance with a 3-1 win over the RC Gunners to capture the Masters Cup.
