Menu
Menu

Women's National Premier League NSW

Home of the Women's National Premier League NSW

Sydney University crowned Challenge Cup Champions

By

Sydney University Soccer Football Club collected the NPL Women’s Challenge Cup trophy for a second straight season after a pulsating 3-2 result against Belconnen United at Valentine Sports Park.

The NPL NSW Womens champions were forced to dig deep after conceding right on half-time but coach Alex Epakis challenged his side during the break and they came out firing. Julie-Ann Russell and Nickoletta Flannery put them in the lead then after being pegged back again, substitute Cortnee Vine thrashed home a winner to round off a wonderful season for the Students.

For Belconnen United, they battled hard and were on the back foot much of the first half. Retiring star Caitlin Munoz provided a moment of class with her back-heel finish to hand them the lead. Jessie Rasschaert swept to bring it back to 2-2 but the traveling side were unable find a third to send Munoz and coach Antoni Jagarinec out winners.

The hosts were the dominant side in the first half, and had the first chance when Nickoletta Flannery tried to loop a header which flew over the goal.

Flannery continued to be a pest for the Belconnen United defense. She latched onto a cutback then challenged Belconnen United keeper Sally James with a shot that was pushed wide. Uni continued to push it into the wide areas to fashion chances against the Capital Football side.

Belconnen had their best chance of the first half when Catherine Brown lofted a pass into the path of Caitlin Munoz. The veteran striker flicked the ball up for herself before she thrashed a volley wide of the goal.

Next Kiera Bobbin found a pocket of space on the edge of the box, the Belconnen United attacker cut inside then fired a shot straight into the grasp of Sydney University Soccer Football Club keeper Courtney Newbon.

Flannery had a pair of chances late in the first half, first she combined well with Julie-Ann Russell before she sent a shot wide. Her second effort was a sublime touch from the attacker to send her on goal but again, her shot was saved.

The visitors hit Sydney University with a sucker punch right on the break. Brown was in the thick of the action again, with a wonderful cutback for Munoz to back-heel home for 1-nil right on the stroke of half-time.

Coming out of the break, Sydney University struck in the 47th minute. Charlotte McLean’s cushioned a pass into the path of Russell, the striker, who recently was recalled to the Irish national side, fired home to make it 1-1.

Sydney University doubled their delight in the 51st minute through Flannery. The Students passed the ball through the Belconnen defense then Flannery was there to tap home, comeback complete for Sydney University, 2-1.

Not ready to concede defeat, Belconnen United had a thunderous effort from Alexia Forner that was saved by Newbon. The following corner created a scramble around the goalmouth which Jessie Rasschaert swept home for 2-2.

Pegged back again, Sydney University continued to probe the Belconnen United defense but were unable to find a way through as the match started to stretch. Both sides looking for the final goal to be crowned Challenge Cup champions.

It came in the 83rd minute to Sydney University. McLean beat two defenders on the left side before the ball was slammed home by substitute Cortnee Vine, 3-2. They saw out the final moments and secured back-to-back Challenge Cup successes.

Speaking afterwards Sydney University Soccer Football Club coach Alex Epakis reflected on the wonderful second half performance from his side to round off what has been a big season for the Students:

“I told them that I didn’t expect them to hit the ground running. I challenged to find that extra gear and attack the wide areas.

“After the game, I told them I was over the moon.”

On Julie-Ann Moore, “she is a calm head in our side. She can play all across the front line and showed that tonight. She got a recall to the Irish side and that is a testament to get skill and I love coaching her.”

For departing Belconnen United coach Antoni paid tribute to his side, the concept and fellow departee Caitlin Munoz for her contribution to Capital Football down the years.

“I think it was a sensational game.

“The intensity across the 90 minutes and help Women’s football.

“Contests like this are wonderful thing for women’s football. It’s no secret we defended most of the contest and conceded three goals.” Said

“It’s been a great time. I’ve been at the club 10 or 11 years and they’re a great group of girls that I hope stick around. It is fitting that it was also the last game for Caitlin Munoz.

“She has been a stalwart to the game, a foundation member of Canberra United and showed her quality with the goal.”

Match Stats

Saturday 21 September 2019

Valentine Sports Park

Sydney University Soccer Football Club 3 (Russell ‘47, Flannery ‘51, Vine ‘83)

Belconnen United FC 2 (Munoz ‘45, Rasschaert ‘60)

Sydney University Soccer Football Club: 5. KING Taren, 6. WHEELER Claire, 8. GALIC Bianca, 10. CACERES Melissa (23. CASPERS ‘55), 11. RUSSELL Julie-Ann, 12. MORGAN Sarah (28. Johnson ‘85), 13. MCLEAN Charlotte, 17. FLANNERY Nickoletta (18. TRIMBOLI ‘76), 19. COLVILL Aoife (9. VINE ‘55), 21. NEWBON Courtney (1. MAGUS ‘90), 33. TUMETH TorI

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

Belconnen United: 2. WOODMAN Katie, 4. PYKE Bronte, 5. RASSCHAERT Jessie, 6. MUNOZ Caitlin (7. CARNEGIE ‘90), 8. DAY Michaela, 9. BROWN Catherine, 10. FORNER Alexia (11. PACHI ‘78), 12. JALOCHA Nicole, 13. CLARKE Karen, 14. BOBBIN Kiera, 20. JAMES Sally

Unused subs: 3. DAVIS Rihannon, 15. HEDDITCH Stephanie, 16. ZABEL Jazmine

Yellow cards: nil

Red cards: nil

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)

James and Milivojevic claim top honours

By

Wollongong Wolves’ Thomas James and Bankstown City FC’s Vesna Milivojevic were the talk of the 2019 National Premier Leagues Gold Medal Dinner after taking out the Player of the Year honours at the Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf precinct on Friday 13th of September.

Players, coaches, officials as well as high profile guests attended what was a fantastic evening acknowledging the achievements from the top tier National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s and Women’s seasons.

It was a fantastic season for both males and females as they got together in a monumental evening where over 360 guests attended with the night proudly presented by Simon Hill.

There were a number of special guests which included; Lynda Voltz, Member for Auburn and Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Dr Hugh McDermott, Member for Prospect, Federal MP Jason Falinski, Member for Mackellar, former Socceroo legend Les Scheinflug, FFA Chairman Chris Nikou, Hyundai A-League/W-League Head Greg O’Rourke, Western Sydney Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas, Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend, Macarthur FC Chairman Rabieh Krayem along with the Football NSW Board.

The Club Championship awards were one of the first awards of the evening with Sydney University wrapping yet another one in the NPL NSW Women’s category while for a record breaking 15th time, Blacktown City were top of the trumps in the Men’s category.

Referees were honoured soon after as Ben Abraham took out the NPL NSW Men’s category after a sterling season which also saw him earn a spot into the 2019/2020 Hyundai A-League referees panel. Isabella Libri clinched top honours in the NPL NSW Women’s category and she too caught the attention of the W-League this time, pushing her cause as a fourth official which was an amazing honour for the Southern Districts Soccer Referees representative.

The announcement of the Player of the Year and Golden Boot winners in the Under 20/Reserve grade competition were up next and what a season it was for both categories.

NWS Koalas’ Tahlia Macri took out the honours in the Women’s Reserve grade notching up an incredible 33 goals while Rockdale City Suns’ James Cakovski took out the 20 Men’s scoring 13 for the year.

The Player of the Year awards were up next and Sydney University’s Maxine Peak grabbed all the plaudits for an outstanding year in the 20’s while Blacktown City’s Suleyman Bangura stood out from the rest of the pack in a big season. No doubt these two players will be knocking on the senior doors for first grade contracts in season 2020 with both already earning minutes in their senior squads this year.

Goalkeepers were next on the awards block and it was Northern Tigers’ quality shotstopper Eliza Campbell who took out the NPL NSW Women’s category in what was an impressive year for the gun custodian. Mt Druitt Town Rangers’ skipper and number one Carlos Saliadarre was next up and clinched his respective award after he guided the newly promoted NPL NSW Men’s club to safety and more with the club just finishing outside a top five finals spot.

The Golden Boot award winners were announced soon after.

The ‘Debbie Tait’ Award for the NPL NSW Women’s Golden Boot was awarded to Sydney Olympic’s starlet and Young Matilda Susan Phonsongkham who scored 20 goals for the year.

Finally, in the NPL Men’s category, it was a tight contest but Wollongong Wolves’ English star Thomas James came through on the final day of round 22 matches, scoring 22 goals, one more than his nearest rival in APIA Leichhardt Tigers’ Chris Payne.

It was onto the NPL NSW Men’s ‘Goal of the Year’ award and after 22 rounds there was only one clear winner. In what was a stunning year for goals it came from an unlikely source, Wollongong Wolves defender Nikola Djordjevic for his outrageous ‘scorpion’ goal that went viral against the Sutherland Sharks in round 8 of the competition. It was to be the second successive year Football NSW’s Goal of the Year would be in the form of a scorpion kick after Sydney Olympic defender Thomas Whiteside took it out in 2018.

The Coach of the Year category was next with Northern Tigers’ NPL NSW Women’s manager Jason Eagar getting the nod from his fellow peers. It was a great year for Eagar and his team after guiding his side to the finals series, just missing out on silverware at the big dance. Wollongong Wolves’ well known and travelled coach Luke Wilkshire took out the male category after a huge season clinching the Premiership. In his debut season as a head coach, Wilkshire used all his experience as a former Socceroo that spearheaded his side with not only a Premiership but winning a passage to the 2019 NPL Finals Series representing NSW with the opportunity to be crowned the Champion NPL club across Australia.

The time had come for the Player of the Year awards in what was the crucial part of the evening as the suspense was at boiling point for all players involved.

Once again, the clubs voted in a 3-2-1 system after each team put forward their best two players for the 2019 season.

Things were tight in the NPL NSW Women’s category however it was Bankstown City’s Vesna Milivojevic who was quite simply outstanding and a  shining light in what was an otherwise tough year for the club. Although finishing tenth on the overall ladder, Milivojevic was the heart and soul of the Bankstown squad, scoring goals on cue as well as providing them for her fellow teammates.

The stage was set for the final award of the evening and that was the prestigious NPL NSW Men’s award for 2019, the Gold Medal.

After 22 rounds the award was presented to Wollongong Wolves’ Thomas James, who collected his second award of the evening.

James was outstanding in his debut NPL NSW Men’s season after being plucked from the ACT Premier League, he paid back the faith coach Luke Wilkshire had in him with a fine season.

Scoring goals was his main attribute but his work ethic and willingness to win at all costs was also another quality James possessed in what was a huge season for the Lincolnshire lad.

James beat the likes of APIA Leichhardt Tigers’ Franco Parisi, Mt Druitt Town Rangers Fabricio Fernandes and Marconi’s Marko Jesic for the big prize and was truly humbled to have won such an accolade.

2019 Premier Leagues Award Winners

Fair Play Award

NPL NSW Men’s – Sydney FC

NSW Women’s – North Shore Mariners

Club Championship    

NPL NSW Men’s – Blacktown City

NSW Women’s – Sydney University

Referee of the Year      

NPL NSW Women’s – Isabella Libri

NPL NSW Men’s – Ben Abraham

Goalkeeper of the Year

NPL NSW Women’s – Eliza Campbell (Northern Tigers)

NPL NSW Men’s – Carlos Saliadarre (Mt Druitt Town Rangers)

Golden Boot Awards   

NPL NSW Men’s 2 20’s – James Cakovski (Rockdale City Suns) – 13 goals

NSW Women’s Reserves – Tahlia Macri (NWS Koalas) – 33 goals

NPL NSW Women’s – Susan Phonsongkham (Sydney Olympic) – 20 goals

NPL NSW Men’s – Thomas James (Wollongong Wolves) – 22 goals

Coach of the Year

NSW Women’s – Jason Eagar (Northern Tigers)

NPL NSW Men’s – Luke Wilkshire (Wollongong Wolves)

 NPL NSW Men’s Goal of the Year   

NPL NSW Men’s – Nikola Djordjevic (Wollongong Wolves)

Player of the Year        

NPL Women’s Reserves – Maxine Peak (Sydney University)

NPL NSW Men’s 20’s – Suleyman Bangura (Blacktown City)

NPL NSW Women’s – Vesna Milivojevic (Bankstown City)

NPL NSW Men’s – Thomas James (Wollongong Wolves)

-Football NSW Media Release

 

Sydney University set to battle Belconnen United Blue Devils for the Challenge Cup

By

National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Premiers and Champions Sydney University SFC will look towards adding a third piece of silverware to what has been a successful 2019 season when they tackle ACT’s best in Belconnen United Blue Devils on Saturday 21st of September at Valentine Sports Park for the right to be crowned the Challenge Cup winner.

Alex Epakis’ side have been in red-hot of form as season 2019 came to a close last Sunday where his talented chargers took out the Championship albeit in nervous circumstances defeating Northern Tigers 4-1 on penalties.

The Uni stars were too good for their opponents during the course of the normal season taking out the Premiership by eight points.

It will definitely be an intriguing battle against Antoni Jagarinec’s squad who, like Uni, were crowned Premiers, as they also won their respective competition by eight points.

Match Details

Sydney University SFC v Belconnen United

Saturday 21 September 2019 – 3pm kick-off

Valentine Sports Park Field No.1 (Grass) (If inclement weather is experienced and the match cannot go ahead on field 1, we will move the match to Valentine Sports Park Field No.2 (Synthetic) kick off at 4:30pm)

 

 

Uni star Vine looking at hunting down Tigers

By

This weekend the Female Football Festival will host all National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier and two grand finals at Valentine Sports Park.

One of the most anticipated match ups will be when NPL1 First Grade back-to-back Premiers, Sydney University SFC take on a renewed 2019 Northern Tigers.

After taking out the Premiership last year, followed by a nail-biting 4-3 loss to the Macarthur Rams in the Grand Final, Sydney Uni find themselves at the top of the table for a second time, vying to add another double, of Premiership and Championship to their list of accomplishments.

21 year-old Young Matilda and W-League forward, Cortnee Vine, has been a crucial part of the set up for both seasons, last year as the third leading goal scorer of the competition and this year, despite some injuries, still bolstering the team as they powered through a 17 win, five draw and one loss season.

“Making the grand final and winning back-to-back premierships is such a massive achievement for the club, the coaching staff and the girls. It says a lot about the club as a whole when both your First Grade and Reserve Grade are two-time Premiers,” Vine said of making her second grand final with Sydney Uni.

This season, Vine has scored 11 goals in 18 matches for her team, which although seems a far cry from her 22 in 18 effort of 2018, her focus this year was less about scoring goals and more about evolving as a player.

“My performance this season has been a bit more up and down than what I was hoping for. I’ve had some little niggles here and there, which meant I’ve had to miss out on some games,” Vine shared.

But when she was on the pitch, she was expanding her footwork repertoire with the goal of becoming a more multi-faceted player.

“I wanted to work on another side to my game this year. I’m usually an “in behind” type of player so I decided I wanted to work on trying to receive the ball more this season. I wanted to evolve my game which I think I’ve achieved.”

Vine said that having the space to grow as a footballer is one of the highlights of playing under Head Coach Alex Epakis but the overall foundation and objective of the team has remained consistent.

“I think one of the main things that helps us to gel so well, is having consistency. We’ve all played together for at least a couple of years now and the playing style that Alex has enforced hasn’t changed,” she explained.

“Everyone is on the same page and that’s key. Apart from a few tweaks here and there and adapting to new players, our game plan is consistent. We’ve had some new girls come in who have done a great job and just slotted right in, which I think is credit to our coach and our team,” she continued.

“I think we as a unit are very strong. We have a lot of players who have experience at a W-League level and I’d say one of our strengths is our speed in the front third, we have wingers who aren’t afraid to take their players on, 1v1. We have fullbacks who love to run and overlap and a midfield who can not only defend but play killer passes into our attacking third.

“Our back line is very solid and calm on the ball and as you can tell, I just really back my team!” Vine said.

Head to head, it would seem Sydney Uni are the favourites to take out the Championship. Of the three times they’ve faced off this season, Sydney Uni have won twice and drawn once against the Northern Tigers, but the Tigers have been one of the biggest movers and shakers of 2019.

Rich Byrnes’ side finished third on the ladder during regular season after winning 15 games, six losses and four draws. For comparison the Northern Tigers of 2018 finished ninth.

With second leading goal-scorer Daisy Arrowsmith combined with the experience of Servet Uzunlar and Ellie Brush, Vine knows stats mean nothing at finals time and anything could happen.

“Our stats look great, but I’m never comfortable in finals series, it’s an entirely different ball game!” she said.

“The quality of the league just keeps getting better each year. You never know who is going to make final series and that’s what makes it so exciting. The Northern Tigers have definitely improved since last year and it’s always good to see a club who didn’t do as well, become one of the most successful teams in the comp.

“This year has been like a whole new season and as a striker, coming up against Ellie Brush and Servet Uzunlar as Northern Tigers centre-backs is pretty challenging!

“They’re great players with a lot of experience, they’re calm on the ball and that definitely shows on the pitch.

“Family, friends and fans can definitely expect an entertaining Grand Final. Sydney Uni and Northern Tigers are not teams that give up easily. It’ll be a fight until the very end, a very physical and mental battle.”

-By Liana Buratti

Superstar Soutar shooting for the stars

By

Six years, six finals series, three premierships, two grand final wins and one grand final loss, that is the success Rachael Soutar has enjoyed with Sydney University.

In her sixth season with the Students, Soutar will look to claim her third grand final victory on Sunday afternoon.

Covered in silverware over the years, last year’s grand final defeat still hurts the versatile football and her team mates.

What was an emotional rollercoaster to say the least, Uni lead until late in the match having been down two-goals at half time, only to concede in the dying stages and go on to lose in extra time.

“It was definitely upsetting losing the grand final last year, especially after winning the premiership.

“So we are really hoping we can get the double this season!”

The double hasn’t been done by anyone since the 2016 season when Uni did it themselves.

Soutar has a knack of scoring spectacular goals from set pieces, as she did two weeks ago against the same opponents.

When asked if she will turn it on again, Soutar laughed it off and said “let’s hope so.”

Another team with fine camaraderie in this league is Uni and Soutar points to that as major part of Uni’s success over the years.

“We have all worked really hard this season and every training session is intense and really enjoyable, which has helped us have a very successful season.

“We also all get along really well off the pitch, which obviously helps us play well together.”

The last two seasons under Alex Epakis has seen Uni continue on and improve on the great work Heather Garriock had accomplished at the club.

The 25-year-old has only words of praise for the man behind the wheels at Uni.

“Working with Alex has been great this season and he has done very well coaching both the firsts and reserves and leading us to two premierships.

“Personally, he has also been very accommodating with helping me balance full time work with training. “

Being one of the most experienced in this young team along with Kendall Fletcher and Julie-Ann Russel, and taking part in her fourth grand final, the excitement is as great as any for Soutar.

“We are all buzzing for Sunday and are hoping to play the best football we can, so we can get the double!”

By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer