Sport
22 April, 2026
Strong start from Lions
THE Corangamite Lions have started the season strongly, with both the division one men and women registering wins over strong Ballarat North United teams at Russell Square in Ballarat.
A second half goal to Roman Fachetti gave the Lions the points after the score was 1-1 at half-time in the division one men’s game.
Recruit Robin Pascal-Pretre scored the first goal of the match.
“Robin hit a pretty firm ball outside the box and put it in the top corner, and it was going to be a goal,” Lions president Jamie Norton said.
“The keeper just got to it but the power behind it was too much and he was unable to stop it.”
Ballarat North United scored an equaliser off a free kick just before half time.
Pascal-Pretre was then sent off, leaving the Lions one short before the winning goal was scored.
“Robin got sent off with a red card with about 40 minutes left, then Roman chipped the keeper with the outside of his boot to make it 2-1.
“There was still 15 minutes to go, so we just defended pretty heavily and got the win.”
The win over last year’s reigning premiers and cup winners saw Corangamite blood five club debutantes.
Joining Pascal-Pretre were Kevin Salina, Jenani Irunga, Jose Semhan Larrarte and Ezequiel Ripa.
Argentinean Salina was named as player of the match for the division one men, with goal keeper Irunga also impressing Norton.
“Kevin played centre back and stopped every attack that was coming towards us, he was great.
“We saw Jenani in a practice game, he pulled a couple of saves off and we thought he was really good, but after the game on the weekend we realise we have an absolutely phenomenal goal keeper.”
The Lion’s women had a strong 4-2 win over a Ballarat North United team that finished on top in 2025, with Andrei O’Connor scoring a brace and Lenise Mantell and Lara Graham one each.
“Lenise scored the first goal from a corner, then Lara scored after Lenise put a ball in from the corner and it sort of got scrappy inside the box, then Lara put it away from inside the box,” said Norton, who is also Corangamite’s women’s coach.
“Then Andrei O’Connor had two lovely runs down the wing and just put them away nice and easy.”
The Lions had kicked all four of their goals in the first half but still had to work for the win.
“We had the game wrapped up in the first half and Ballarat North came back hard in the second half, we had to do a lot of defending just to keep them at bay.”
Alongside West Australian Graham, Paige Holster and Samantha Coxon, both new to the game, also made their debuts for the club.
The day wasn’t as enjoyable for the Lions division two men, who were thumped 12-0 by a Ballarat North United team that also took out the 2025 division two premiers and cup title winners.
The division two team fielded new club players in KB Singh, Andres Tribulo and Facundo Ferrer.
This Sunday the Lions teams return to Scotts Creek where they will host the Sebastopol Vikings.