Story courtesy of College Sport Media

Lucas Hansen (Year 12) identified Lionel Messi as his favourite footballer. Like Messi, Hansen predominantly plays on his left foot, but he can hurt the opposition with his 'wrong foot' too.

Messi has scored 105 of his 818 professional goals with his right foot. On August 24 in Petone, Hansen scored the biggest goal of his life with his right foot.

With five minutes remaining, Hansen broke a 2-2 deadlock to win St Patrick’s College Silverstream the Trevor Rigby Cup final against Hutt International Boys’ High School (HIBS).

It was the first time since 2010 that Silverstream won the Trevor Rigby Cup.

"It was the best feeling ever to score in a final. Everybody dreams about that,” Hansen said.

"The ball came to me off a defender. I thought he would cover it but he didn't. A gap opened and I thought, 'Here’s my chance.' I couldn't believe how well I hit it. When I saw the ball roll past the keeper it was euphoric.

"The second half was really different, intense. It looked like nothing was going to happen until my goal. I came off after that. Watching the last five minutes from the sidelines was torture."

Silverstream made a treacherous start conceding a goal after 34 seconds. 

"I thought it was all over. It was shocking. I still don't know what happened, but someone let slip and we were just overwhelmed by the whole occasion,” Hansen admitted.

Silverstream had no reason to panic. They’d beaten HIBS four days earlier and in a dozen league games scored 70 goals. Their equalizer came from a familiar source. Striker Luke Stoupe scored 48 goals in 28 games in 2023.

"He made the First XI in Year 10 and he's been putting on a show ever since. He's next level and only in Year 12 too. It’s as good watching your mates' score as it is scoring yourself,” Hansen said. 

Stoupe soon turned provider for Hansen who converted with his right foot as Silverstream leapt ahead 2-1. A penalty on the stroke of halftime paved the way for a mostly nervous second half.

“HIBS are such a good team; they’ve been up there for ages. We’ve got a great rivalry with them. You must earn everything against them,” Hansen said.

At the Nationals in Christchurch last week Silverstream was the best-placed Wellington team finishing 13th. On the first day wins over Palmerston North Boys’ High School (2-0) and Cashmere High School (3-1) put Silverstream in a position to make the quarter-finals.

 However, losses to Auckland Grammar School (0-1) and Hamilton Boys’ High School (0-2) on the second day meant only consolation was at stake for the remainder of the event.

A lead was blown in a disappointing defeat to New Plymouth Boys’ High School (2-3), but Silverstream finished strongly with successes over Rosmini College (2-0) and Lindisfarne College (4-1).

“Nationals were unreal. The quality of talent was insane. Westlake won it and we're strong across the park but there were many good teams with heaps of resources,” Hansen said.

“We rested some players against Auckland Grammar because that game wasn’t so important.  Hamilton Boys’ was disappointing.  I feel we could have done better but at least we finished strong.

Hansen (Stream Player 329) played 22 games this season and scored 16 goals with 20 goal assists. He plays senior football for Upper Hutt.

Article added: Wednesday 06 September 2023