THEY may look like sugar and spice but when they descend on the soccer field, these girls are a force to be reckoned with.

Fed up with playing mixed sport, girls from the Spring Hills Junior Football Club decided to take matters into their own hands.

The teenagers, aged between 12 and 15, began a campaign to start a girls’ team in Caroline Springs.

They began putting up posters and speaking to other girls to drum up interest in their plan.

After months of campaigning, their hard work has finally paid off.

So far, around 12 girls have signed on and more are expected to join in the coming weeks.

The team will be a first of its kind for Caroline Springs.

“We’re really excited about it,” said 14-year-old Tori Snelleksz.

“We didn’t think it was fair that there were no girls teams for us to play on.”

Although the sport is traditionally associated with men, Tori says she and her friends can give the boys a run for their money.

“I reckon we’re just as tough as they are,” Tori said.

“Some of the girls are fantastic players.

“We thought it was about time that girls in the area had the same chance that boys have.”

Club secretary Anil Kattula said he had no doubt the girls team would succeed.

“They’re actually fantastic players,” he said.

“They’re just as good as the boys and in some cases they’re better.

“They’re got great co-ordination and they definitely have the passion and they can be just as aggressive on the field.”

Mr Katulla said the club had almost tripled its membership over the past twelve months and had taken a lot of calls from girls interested in joining.

The club is looking for more girls between 12 and 14 to join the girls under 15 team.

For more information, call 9449 8510.