Double prize for Hannah Gordon as Inverness Caley Thistle Women hand out end of season awards for 2022/23 SWF Championship campaign
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women have honoured their star performers from the 2022/23 season after playing their final match of the campaign last Sunday.
A 4-1 win at Hutchison Vale was a nice way to cap things off, and afterwards the club’s end of season awards were handed out.
Hannah Gordon, the team’s captain for the season in the absence of Kirsty Deans due to injury, was a double winner – claiming both the club and players’ player of the year prize.
Kayleigh Mackenzie held on to her crown as the club’s top scorer for a third year in-a-row, with her 18 goals also placing her among the most prolific players across the SWF Championship.
That was despite playing most of her minutes in central midfield, and even playing in the heart of defence over the final weeks of the campaign.
Her closest challenger at Inverness, Rhea Hossack, was named the most improved player in the squad after scoring 12 times in the league.
ICT’s young player of the year was Iona MacArthur, who only turned 16 as the season drew to a close but has become a regular part of the starting line-up.
“Hannah works her socks off and she always wears her heart on her sleeve,” manager Karen Mason explained.
“Even in games where we haven’t played particularly well as a team, she has been a stand-out.
“She has adapted her position this year to play in centre midfield, and she has led by example and been a real strength for us throughout the year.
“She has been outstanding in terms of her performances, and I don’t think you can ask for a better leader than that.
“Rhea’s strength has always been a bonus, but she has added a first touch to that as well.
“I know she will be very frustrated that she hasn’t scored more, but that’s something for her to aim towards for next season.
“She has come on leaps and bounds, especially in the second half of the season, and when her confidence got up, everything she hit turned to goals.
“The more adaptable Kayleigh has been, the more the team has benefited. I think she is realising that points are more important than goals, but she can still turn the game around by putting the ball in the net.
“Iona still has a lot to learn, but she’s definitely got the talent. She will only get better by playing against better players, and when she adds a first touch and good finish she’ll be unstoppable.”
