While the youngsters arrived at the Pacific Cup in San Jose, California. relative unknowns they left with their more fancied Mexican and American opponents aware they are part of a bright future for Australian futsal.

Maitland Magpies under-19 player Hodgetts, who was the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals from four games, said the team had gone through the preliminary rounds unbeaten.

“We defeated the Mexican men’s and youth teams and the US under 20s to qualify for the final,” Hodgett, 18, said.

“In the final we were losing 3-1 with seven minutes to go and we decided to risk all by taking the keeper off and it ended with a 7-1 loss.”

Weston Bears Horder, the team’s goalkeeper, and Oliver said the team had exceeded everyone’s expectations, especially after only having two days training together before the competition.

“We were still jet-lagged when we hit the court to start training,” Horder, who made several key saves during the tournament, said.

The team’s manager Manny Tserepas said the boys had flown the flag for Australia when injuries and a player being barred from entry to the US because he had visited Iran for a family wedding through the senior team’s plans into disarray.

“The boys were terrific, Tom was a valuable contributor, Lachlan was the leading goal scorer and Jed had a very good tournament as we didn’t take a reserve” Tserepas said.

“The Hunter and Australia for that matter can be very proud of how they represented their country.”

Tserepas said he was hopeful the Hunter trio would be part of the Australian team for the World Youth cup in two years time.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of futsal,” he said.

“The Newcastle Titans are the reining premiers in the national league. Young Lachlan is part of the team.

“We’re finding more and more players are just concentrating on futsal rather than the outdoor game.”

For the time being the Hunter trio are happy to play both.