Halmarick the hero as Spirit sink Uni
NWS Spirit FC recorded their first win of the 2025 National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW season with a 1-0 victory over Sydney University SFC at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday evening.
With the complete opposite conditions to last week’s extreme heat, Skye Halmarick scored the only goal of the game mid-way through the first half as the rain came down.
It was a dominant performance for Tony Candy’s team, from kick off through to full time, creating a number of opportunities throughout the game.
Their first came nine minutes in when Skye Halmarick rose highest in the box, her looping header on the way to the top corner, only for Sofia Fante to tip the ball out.
Not long after, Jamie Beaufils went close with a free kick for Uni, her shot from distance just clearing Katie Offer’s goal.
The visitor’s then hit the front from their next real opportunity on 25 minutes.
Mikaela Gavranic pinched the ball in midfield, poked it through to Halmarick who spread it wide for Victoria Martin.
Martin then unselfishly squared the ball up for the Spirit number nine as Halmarick blasted the ball home.
10 minutes later, Spirit almost doubled their advantage, Martin delivered a perfect ball for Halmarick again, this time though the striker couldn’t get enough of a connection on the ball to beat Fante.
The roles were reversed moments later, Halmarick slipping in Martin with a reverse pass, only for Fante to come out on top.
Uni had a chance to equalise just before the break, Beaufils forcing Katie Offer into a save.
The Halmarick-Martin combination was creating serious problems for the Uni defence, again the striker playing in Martin, the winger shooting straight at Fante who comfortably saved.
It was Halmarick’s chance to try and beat Fante next, shooting low on the turn, only for Fante to scramble over well to get a hand on to the ball.
Substitute Alice Thompson came closest for the home side in the second half, substitute keeper Grace Smith saving the effort.
With time running out for Uni, it would be Spirit again on the attack.
An excellent team move saw Halmarick drop the ball off for Kayla Osborn, the latter forcing Fante into another excellent save.
Candy’s team showed maturity beyond their years in the closing stages of the game to close out the fixture with some excellent game management.
Match Stats
Sydney University 0
NWS Spirit 1 (Halmarick 25’)
Sunday, 23 March
Valentine Sports Park
Sydney University: 31. Fante, 4. Feeney, 5. Kirby, 6. Hogan (14. Harris), 8. Van Dijk (3. Thompson), 10. Beaufils, 16. Tahliya Sambrook, 18. Egan-Brown (19. Tay), 26. Kokoris (11. Nicholas), 32. Juric, 33. Tsavalias (20. Hill).
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Callaghan.
Yellow Cards: Egan-Brown
Red Cards: Nil
NWS Spirit: 1. Offer (31. Smith), 4. Cooney-Cross (8. Gabila), 5. Martin, 6. Pell, 7. Osborn, 9. Halmarick, 17. Stoltzfus, 19. Caulisic, 20. Burns ((26. Kelleher)29. Wynne)), 25. Gavranic, 27. Fuccenecco.
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Hawkins, 24. Attard.
Yellow Cards: Halmarick, Pell.
Red Cards: Nil
-By Nikola Pozder
