Once an accidental goalie, Lara de Waal-Hart is making a fine fist of the role. Andrew Dawson reports

Lara de Waal-Hart is making a fine fist of the goal keeping after co-captaining Brisbane State High School to the QGSSSA senior premiership, and making the Queensland under 18 squad for 2020.

Being a goal keeper in any sport can be an euphoric place to be if you save a goal, or the loneliest place on a sporting field if you don’t.

But western suburbs resident Lara de Waal-Hart is making a fine fist of the job after co-captaining Brisbane State High School to the QGSSSA senior premiership, and making the Queensland under 18 squad for 2020.

$1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. Min. cost $4

De Waal-Hart said she did not enter the sport to be a goalkeeper. “I think most girls who end up becoming a goalkeeper start out by just filling in for one game, which is what happened forme,’’ she said.

Lara de Waal-Hart scans the play.

“I just found that I was much better stopping goals instead of scoring them, and within my first few years of playing as a goalie I made shadow for the under 12 Queensland schoolgirls squad and then the under 13 Queensland team.

“This was also the time when I came to State High for sporting merit and started playing hockey for school.’’

Like BSHS co-captain Imogen Turner, de Waal-Hart has been a long term member of the school’s open team.

“Since grade 9 I have been playing in the open’s team, and it has been a great experience playing with such skilled players who were in the older grades, as it gave me a chance to greatly improve my shot stopping.

“Along with being premiers each year in the QGSSSA competition, school hockey at State High has brought me friends, and a chance for leadership by being a captain in my final year at school.

Lara de Waal-Hart was co-captain of the winning BSHS open hockey team.

“I have loved mentoring younger girls in my team and especially the young emerging goalkeepers in the junior teams as it is such a specialised position and can bring great strength to a strong outfield team.’’

A member of the Commercial hockey club, de Waal-Hart has also tasted experience in the club’s senior Division 1 side which she found invaluable.

“Next year I hope to attain a scholarship for a division 1 team for college in America,’’ she said.