Girls/Women Champion of Champions Final Reports
Under 12 Girls: Unanderra claims Champion of Champion titles in penalty shootouts
The 2011 Champion of Champions Grand Final in the Under 12s girls division at Valentine Sports Park saw Unanderra prevail on penalties after the match against Hazelbrook finished 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time.
Unanderra?s goalkeeper, Monique Lakovski who replaced Hannah Farrugia in the second half, was the star of the show, saving the first three Hazelbrook penalties in the shootout, whilst her team mates converted theirs to register a 3-0 triumph from the spot.
After a tentative opening quarter of an hour, it was Hazelbrook who opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a brilliant individual goal.
Caitlin Bass picked up the ball near the centre of the park, and used her pace and skill to race clear of the Unanderra defence before slotting the ball past keeper, Hannah Farrugia, hitting her shot low to the keeper?s left.
Carla Smith replied within minutes for Unanderra, ending a mazy run into the box with a firm shot that Areau Lorimer did well to hold onto in the Hazelbrook goal.
Jessicia Jauleski almost equalized on 21 minutes for Unanderra, her volley flashing inches wide of the upright after a great run and cross by Carla Smith.
Smith started the second half in determined mood, her free kick from wide on the edge of the penalty box floating centimeters wide of the far post.
In what was fast becoming a duel between the number 10s, Bass had her turn on 29 minutes, her cross shot also beating everyone as it sailed past the far goal post.
Unanderra eventually restored parity with a clinical piece of finishing in the 34th minute, sending their fans into an absolute frenzy.
Kiarna Rosandic remained composed as she received the ball inside the right hand side of the penalty area, sliding inside her marker before coolly slotting past Hazelbrook?s Lorimer at the near post.
As the clock ticked over towards extra time, Hazelbrook?s Bass went on one final slalom run, weaving in and out of numerous defenders as she made her way into the penalty area.
Just as Bass was about to pull the trigger, Unanderra?s diminutive little midfielder, Rosandic, had trekked all the way back to pull off a match saving tackle.
Bass had the only real chance of note in extra time, with her left foot snap volley after four minutes being brilliantly saved by Farrugia, who managed to get down low and tip the ball around the post.
So it went to the dreaded penalty shootout, and as Carla Smith, Jessicia Jauleski, and Olivia Masciovecchio all hit the mark for Unanderra, Monique Lakovski managed to save the first of three Hazelbrook?s penalties, the last of the saves giving Unanderra and Football South Coast a memorable victory.
Unanderra 1 (Rosandic 34?)
Hazelbrook 1 (Bass 17?)
*Unanderra won 3-0 on penalties
-By Frank Speranza
Under 14 Girls: Dominant South-West Slopes claim 14s Women?s title
A dominant display of football saw South-West Slopes defeat Gladesville Ravens by a 5-1 score line in the 14s Women?s Champions of Champions Final on Sunday morning.
The Slopes were first out of the blocks with Emma James, Charlee McPherson, Erin Holder, and Kya Godbier creating early chances before Holder broke the deadlock on the quarter hour mark with a powerful shot that crept inside the top corner via the keeper?s gloves.
James doubled the Slopes? advantage minutes later with a well-placed effort before Rose Ellison struck the crossbar at the other end as the Ravens looked to find a way back into the game.
Jessica Basriajian kept the Ravens? hopes alive as she tipped Jessica Doolan?s shot onto the crossbar late in the first half; however there was little she could do to keep Godbier?s deceptive shot out shortly after the restart as the Slopes maintained their dominance in the second half.
The Ravens were given a glimmer of hope when Madeline Williams pulled one back with a spectacular 40-yard free kick the dropped perfectly into the top corner.
The Slopes responded with two late goals as Ashley Holder capitalised on a defensive error to score a poacher?s effort before Erin Holder scored her second with the last kick off the game to round off an impressive win for the Slopes.
South-West Slopes 5 (Erin Holder 15?, 60?, Emma James 19?, Kya Godbier 34?, Ashley Holder 58?)
Gladesville Ravens 1 (Madeline Williams 55?)
?By Michael Shoolman
Under 16 Girls: Seaforth clinch Champion of Champions title
Manly Warringah Football Ass?s Seaforth clinched the 2011 Under 16 Girls title after a hard fought 2-0 victory over Southern Districts Ass?s Liverpool Olympic at Valentine Sports on what was a humid Sunday afternoon.
Both teams tested each other in the early stages of the match as the heat played a toll on the fluency of the game but it was Seaforth who struck the first goal in the 18th minute.
After some fantastic build-up play by Seaforth, striker Kate Geddes home from close range which sent the fans into raptures much to the dismay of Olympic keeper Nika Morozoff.
Rochelle Sharpe almost made it two in the 23rd minute but her effort sizzled over the bar.
Olympic needed a spark and almost got it in the 28th minute when Michelle Jugow hit a stunning free-kick from 30-yards but was well saved by Seaforth keeper Sophie Carlberg.
Olympic fans almost had something to celebrate in the 31st when Tiarne Inzitari looped a ferocious shot that looked like it was travelling over Carlberg, but the keeper held her nerve to thwart Liverpool an equaliser.
A minute later and Chontelle Kelly tried her luck from the right side of the post but her shot hit the side netting.
The match ended 1-0 at the break to Seaforth as Liverpool Olympic went on the hunt for an equaliser in the second half.
Ciara Harding had other ideas though as the Seaforth player got inside the box well but skewed her shot just wide of the box.
It was to be Seaforth?s day however as Geddes bagged a second and what a great individual goal it was as she took on two players and slotted home from close range to give her side a 2-0 victory.
Seaforth 2 (K Geddes 18?, 58?)
Liverpool Olympic 0
-By Mark Stavroulakis
Under 18 Women: Hurlstone Park came from behind to beat Colo in Women?s U-18 final
Hurlstone Park outlasted the heat and Colo to triumph 2-1 in the U-18 final.
Trailing by a goal midway through the second-half, Lauren Paddon and Isabel Adolphe ensured Jordan Chapman?s goal was cancelled out, securing the winner?s trophy for the Canterbury Ass club.
Following early half-chances to Colo via the feet of Chapman and Rebecca Cartwright, it was Hurlstone Park that created the clearer chances in the first period. Paddon was in the thick of the action, with Abby Howell and Isabel Adolpe chiming in with decent attempts on Laura Hartley?s goal.
Adolphe?s late cross-turn-shot, in the final minutes of the first-half, produced Hartley?s best save, diverting the ball over her crossbar with a fingertip deflection.
Colo found the opening goal in the 54? minute as Cartwright played a pin-point pass into the path of Chapman who finished with aplomb for the opener.
Hurlstone Park replied shortly after via Paddon. The striker used her speed and strength to take control of the ball and blast a neat diagonal effort into the back of the net.
The Canterbury Association side were guilty of squandering some one-on-one goal scoring opportunities in the period of play that followed, though all could be forgiven in the closing stages as Adolphe latched onto a through ball and did not disappoint, driving the ball past Hartely to seal the win.
Scenes of jubilation followed on the playing surface as the players and supporters embraced after a well-deserved victory.
Hurlstone Park 2 (Lauren Paddon 61?, Isabel Adolphe 88?)
Colo 1 (Jordan Chapman 54?)
-By Joseph Carlucci
Women Under 21s: Impressive Miranda dismantle Burwood
A dominant performance from Miranda Magpies saw the Sutherland Shire representatives overcome Burwood 5-1 in the Women?s 21s Champions of Champions final on Sunday afternoon at Valentine Sports Park.
Brittany van der Hart gave Miranda an early lead with a well-placed spot kick after Burwood conceded a foul in the box from the first corner of the match.
A couple of well taken saves by Sophie Harper kept Burwood in the match either side of Brittany Bultitude?s brave last ditch challenge to deny Kathryn Pearce at the other end.
Burwood almost grabbed an equaliser through Zoe Zagami?s 25-yard drive; however the Miranda keeper was on hand to tip the ball over to maintain her side?s lead.
Miranda doubled their advantage through Gabbie Johnson before Michelle Smith pulled one back for Burwood shortly before the interval.
Lisa Steward did exceptionally well to put Miranda further ahead after the hour mark as she shrugged off her marker on the wing before producing a lethal shot that dipped inside the far post.
Lara Haly Smith confirmed the win for Miranda with a quarter of an hour remaining as she skinned two defenders before capping off her run with a crisp finish inside the far post.
She then rounded off the scoring with her second goal minutes later, controlling a long ball before neatly clipping her shot between her marker and the onrushing keeper.
Danna Cicco saw her late effort saved by Harper in the match?s final goal scoring opportunity as Miranda controlled the closing stages of their impressive victory.
By Michael Shoolman
All Age Women?s: Ashcroft the hero as Manly Vale win the AAW Champion of Champions
A late goal to striker Eliza Ashcroft was the difference between Manly Vale and Gosford in a tight and highly contested final.
Both sides came into the match with goals in them bit really failed to carve out any clear opportunities with much of the match taking place in midfield.
Gosford had the early running and could have taken the lead in the 14th minute after Annika Van Lierop put wide a rebound 6 yards out after Pete O?Loughlin?s initial shot was parried by Suerry Hodues.
Nat Dawson drew the best from Hodues on 33 minutes after her turn and shot was well saved.
Manly Vale drew inspiration from midfielders Jo Greco and Amanda Thompson who were valiant in tracking back from midfield and defending Gosford?s attack.
The initial stages of the second half played out much like the first with no real chances for either side.
Gosford striker Angela Beattie had a chance in the 56th minute from an acute angle outside the area but hit the side netting.
Manly Vale seemed to spring to life in the final 30 minutes of the match with Thompson heading wide twice off set pieces and Kara Thompson firing wide after a goal mouth scramble.
Gosford?s Megan Sullivan had an excellent chance on 72 minutes after rolling a defender on the edge of the penalty area but the wingers shot looped over the bar.
Manly Vale took the lead in the 74th minute after a goal mouth scramble, Ashcroft lofted a loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Gosford were deflated by the goal with Manly Vale really running over the top of Gosford in the closing stages.
Manly Vale 1 (Ashcroft 74?)
Gosford 0
-By Bruce Da Silva
Over 30 Women?s: Brickwood seels dramatic win for Nepean
Nepean Association defeated Kissing Point 1-0 to be crowned 2011 Over 30 Women?s Champion of Champions.
In what was a cagey affair, Amanda Brickwood sealed the game for Nepean in the 88th minute after a low drive across the face of goal from outside the 18 yard box.
Brickwood?s finish came off the back of some excellent play by Nepean in working the ball forward.
Both sides endured an exhausting midfield battle which saw limited goal scoring opportunities created.
Nepean Association 1 (Brickwood 88?)
Kissing Point 0
-By Bruce Da Silva
