Sydney University wrapped up the Premiership on Sunday with a round to spare in the NPL NSW Women’s competition.
NWS Koalas 0-4 Sydney University
Sydney University popped the champagne for the second straight week, this week securing the premiership having won the club championship last week.
Two goals either side of the break were enough for the Students to come away with a 4-0 win against the North West Sydney Koalas.
It didn’t take long for the party to start for Uni, hitting the front after only seven minutes.
Annabel Martin will tell you she definitely meant it but her cross turned into a spectacular goal, beating Romina Parraguirre.
Ariella Cabezas has been in good form in front of goals this season for the Koalas and she forced the Uni keeper into a finger-tip save just after the quarter hour mark.
Uni kept pushing forward but couldn’t break down the Koalas until 10 minutes from half time.
Cortnee vine took advantage of a Rachel Soutar pass before slotting the ball into the back of the net to double Uni’s lead.
Uni dominated the rest of the first period but couldn’t add to the score line, going into half time two-goals to the good.
As the second 45 got under way, Uni continued with their high press play while the Koalas persisted trying to play out from the back.
Forcing an error from the home team four minutes after the break, Uni won themselves a free kick deep in the Koalas half.
It was obvious Alex Epakis’ side had worked set pieces during the week as Martin popped up with the ball and found her second, pushing the score out to 3-0.
The pace of the match came down a notch after that goal as the coaches began ringing changes.
Just as the Koalas started to create some half chances, Uni scored their fourth.
They transitioned into a quick counter as Vine scored her second with a sublime finish from just inside the box.
The Uni striker continues to show her prowess and fantastic goal scoring capabilities.
To the home team’s credit, they continued pushing till the end but couldn’t score a consolation.
Blacktown Spartans 3-1 Manly United
Blacktown continued their push for a top three spot with a victory over Manly United.
Ash Crofts opened the scoring mid-way through the first half, getting onto the end of a Linda Dudek through ball.
It took them less than 60 seconds in the second half to make it two as Dudek this time found the back of the net after a great Alix Roberts cross.
Shortly after it was 3-0, this time Tanya Borazio making another fantastic run down the left side before dribbling in and placing passed Simonsen.
Emilly Minett picked up a consolation for the away team with 20 minutes to go for the final score, 3-1.
It also needs to be added that Roberts almost scored another spectacular free kick, the cross bar still shaking after her late effort.
Illawarra Stingrays 3-2 FNSW Institute
There were goals galore at JJ Kelly Park as the Illawarra Stingrays prevailed against the Football NSW Institute.
In the final home game of the season, the Stingrays knew that three points would go a long way in putting them in the top three.
It’s now in there own hands as they defeated the Institute five-goal thriller, 3-2.
The Rays now sit in third place on the ladder, ahead of the Northern Tigers on goal difference.
Northern Tigers 0-1 Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic tied up second spot on Sunday afternoon with victory against the Northern Tigers.
Mackenzie Hawkesby’s first half goal was more than enough for all three points at NTRA.
Olympic held on in the second period and recorded a 1-0 win.
It’s been a fantastic first season in the top flight for George Beltsos’ team, coming within inches of the premiership.
Bankstown City 1-1 North Shore Mariners
At Jensen Park, Bankstown City and the North Shore Mariners shared the spoils.
The Mariners best player of the season Gab Marzano had the away side in front with a powerful finish inside the first 10 minutes.
Bankstown’s best, Vesna Milivojevic, would soon return fire in some style, slaloming her way through the Mariners defence before placing the ball into the back of the net.
Marzano went from hero to villain though as she was sent off in the second period.
Emerging Jets 2-3 Macarthur Rams
The Rams want to finish the season on a high and started with an entertaining win over the Emerging Jets.
With finals out of the picture for both, the two played without any pressure and it was the travelling team that would come away with the spoils in a 3-2 win.
By Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer