Second half blitz sees Rams oust Uni
Macarthur Rams continued their perfect start to the NPL Women’s NSW season after accounting for Sydney University 2-0 at Lynwood Park on Sunday evening.
After a scoreless first half, goals from Lola Sossai and Bronte Trew in the second 45 minutes were enough for the home team to secure all three points.
The home team started well and Trew was the first to go close after only 90 seconds of play.
Space opened up down the right for the attacker but took to long, still somehow managing to get a shot away, a comfortable take in the end for Chelsea Hromek.
Uni had their own chance soon after, Talia Kapetanelis shooting just wide of the goal with a well struck left footed effort.
The visitors pressed again, this time the lively Anna Hunt getting beyond Olivia Sloan before spraying a ball across goal, no one getting on the end of it.
After holding much of the ball, the Rams went close via Trew again, this time after a pass from Tea Mucenski, Hromek coming out on top once more.
Mucenski was in the mood and took Amelia Kirby one on one, getting beyond the defender before not getting enough power behind the shot, Hromek once more comfortable.
Shortly after, Mucenski was involved again, this time pulling her effort wide of the goal in a very promising position inside the area.
The final opportunity of the half went the way of the visitors, and they should have hit the front.
Uni captain Jaime Beaufils combined with Ava Pritchard on the edge of the area, space opening up for Beaufils with only Teresa Morrissey to beat, the Rams keeper saving well.
The attack wasn’t over though as the rebound fell into the path of Pritchard who under pressure could not direct her effort goalwards.
In the second stanza, the Rams started to take charge.
First Trew went close, forcing Hromek into another good save.
On the hour mark, the pressure told.
Sossai got onto the end of a fantastic ball by Chelsea Barton, driving into the box and firing into the near corner to finally beat the excellent Hromek.
It didn’t take the home side long to double their advantage.
A delightful switch ball by Miku Sunaga found substitute Helena Halios-Lewis who with her first touch forced Hromek into another important save, this time the rebound falling to Trew who shot toward goal.
The desperate Uni keeper getting a palm on the ball but unable to keep the effort out as the Rams went 2-0 up.
Trew should have had her second and sewn the points up after getting played through one on one, beating Hromek but not the upright, her effort hitting the post and going out.
Kapetanelis was Uni’s most dangerous player and went close again with another well struck shot from distance, the ball whizzing past the top left corner.
The Rams comfortable controlled the game in the end, securing their second win from as many starts.
Match Stats
Macarthur Rams 2 (Sossai 59’, Trew 67’)
Sydney University 0
Lynwood Park, St Helens Park
Sunday, 10th March 2024
Macarthur Rams: 46. Morrissey, 5. Gordon, 11. Trew (31. Scamardella), 14. Sunaga (23. Houliaras), 15. Mucenski (4. Morris), 19. Sloan (18. Halios-Lewis), 20. Duggan (27. Limon), 24. Sossai, 26. Barton, 28. Malone, 35. Hay.
Subs Not Used: 42. Christie.
Sydney University: 21. Hromek, 4. Feeney, 7. Hunt, 8. Beaufils (33. Hill), 9. Pritchard (39. Egan-Brown), 11. Kapetanelis, 14. Hampshire, 17. Kirby, 18. Hogan (26. Kokoris), 20. Cvetkovski, 30. Van Dijk.
Subs Not Used: 15. Farrow, 31. Broomhead, 32. Sambrook.
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By – Nikola Pozder
