By Mat Stramandinoli

Monaro’s Zoe Szeremet set tongues wagging during Round six of the NPL Women’s, with an incredible nine-goal haul on Sunday. 

Zoe began her day with 6 goals in the reserve grade Panthers side, a feat that any player would be extremely content with.

Shortly after, she stepped back onto the pitch for a second time in first grade against a strong Canberra Olympic Olympic side, in hopes for maybe more.

She went on to put the ball into the back of the net another three times in that clash, including a 90^th minute winner that helped her Panthers side to their first victory of the season.

Zoe was only 11 years old when she began her footballing career at Monaro; initially playing football for its social aspect and to have fun.

But the introduction of the NPL Women’s and the provision of a competitive platform for Women and Girls soon saw her transition into higher grades.

A natural utility when on the field, Zoe has been playing on the wing along with stints in the midfield during the season. She was moved to number nine on the weekend to allow more her freedom on the ball and provide a spark upfront, a moved that proved tactically sound and a position that seems very fitting in hindsight.  

Monaro Panthers current first grade coach and Women’s Technical Director Ian Worthington said he was immediately aware of the talent that Zoe possessed along with the other young forwards at Monaro within weeks of arriving at the club, but this past weekend certainly confirmed it.

“We have seen glimpses of her work rate, her desire to achieve and going forward she has been having an impact,” he said.

“But we really saw the player that she is going to be” Worthington said.

Szeremet has shied away from the limelight that comes with scoring nine goals, insisting that if it wasn’t for the efforts of her teammates over the day, she would have a lot less to show.

“The whole team was playing so well, considering everybody had played more than 90 minutes and we were so fatigued,” she said.

“I just remember thinking constantly how I didn’t want us to lose because the girls were moving the ball around so well.”

Zoe will look to keep her impressive season rolling this weekend as Monaro take on Tuggeranong United at Duncan, kicking off at 2pm Sunday.