Women?s Super League Round 17 Preview

It is sad that the season is slowly coming to a close, but with there still being plenty of entertainment to keep us on the edge of our seats, this is the pivotal time of the season for everyone to be at their peak.
Nepean FC, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Northern Tigers, Western NSW Mariners and Southern Branch all host fixtures this weekend with the intent of getting maximum points. To find out if that actually happens, you?ll have to head along to a game and find out for yourself.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Southern Branch v Eastern UNSW Lions
Ison Park, 3pm kick off
In what could and probably should be the Women’s Super League grand finalists, Southern Branch welcome Eastern UNSW Lions to Ison Park on Sunday afternoon with a draw not even worth considering thanks to both sides looking for a win to boost morale heading into the finals.
Southern Branch have gotten into the groove of grinding out results in recent weeks. A tactic which might not win any fans over but is proof on why even on a bad day, Southern Branch is still a level above the rest of the competition. Last weekend saw Southern Branch claim a 2-2 draw against Western NSW Mariners in front of a home support. Goals from A. Graham and K. Meehan were enough to get the point the girls in blue needed and this weekend expect no different. With their physical strength and ability to counter quickly, Branch have every opportunity to not only get all three points, but to win convincingly when they want to.
Without a doubt, Eastern UNSW Lions have shown week after week why they are the best all round squad to grace the 2012 Super League thanks to 12 wins and a emphatic +40 goal difference. The girls in yellow and black have shown they have the ability to take on and beat Southern Branch having already claimed a 3-1 win back in Round 8. With a full squad at her disposal, Sally Paterson is coaching with a smile on her face knowing that a win in Nowra will mean the minor premiership trophy will make the journey to David Phillips Field to cap off what has been a strong season. 
Nepean FC v St. George FC
Cook Park, 3pm kick off
When these two sides first met back in May, Nepean?s lone goal in the first minute of play
from L. Flowers proved the difference, earning the girls in red a valuable three points away from home. Skip forward to this weekend and a win could be on the cards for Nepean FC once again thanks to some fancy footwork and the motivation to not finish in the bottom two before the final whistle is blown next weekend. With many ups and downs this season, the obvious development is that this has been an season of learning for Nepean. Come 2013 and we can expect a much more competitive side.
Saint George FC have pushed hard all season to be in the top half of the ladder but with Lady Luck not looking favourably on the side from Banksia, the 2012 season has been a tough one for the Saints. Last weekend the Saints failed to capitalise on their opportunities in front of goal, falling to a 2-1 defeat against a third placed Northern Tigers. Against Nepean FC, the Saints have the quality across the park and the mental strength to overcome anything that is thrown at them. Jess Carosi remains the impact player for St George thanks to her ability to twist and turn defenders inside out. Keep an eye on her to score (or set up) the opening goal of this fixture.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Parramatta Lady Hawks
Lambert Park, 3pm kick off
Sure APIA are set to win the wooden spoon of the competition and sure they have struggled this season with squad numbers thanks to injury after injury, but it is their ?never say die? attitude which has won plenty of fans over to the side from Leichhardt. After a mid-week defeat to Northern Tigers and a thumping 8-0 loss against UNSW Lions last weekend, the mood around the squad is still strong knowing that next season the squad will come back bigger and better than ever before. Against the Lady Hawks, APIA will need to maintain their physical strength and play a solid passing game if they have any chance of getting a result at Lambert Park.
The Lady Hawks have slipped from title contenders to possibly not even making an appearance in the finals in a matter of weeks. This is down to multiple injuries happening at the wrong time of the season. With the return of a couple of girls to the first team, there is every chance that the Lady Hawks will get a win and climb back into finals contention. Having already claimed a 3-2 win at Melita Stadium in Round 8, the Lady Hawks will be expecting much of the same at Lambert Park in Round 17.
Northern Tigers v Sydney Olympic
Mills Park, 3pm kick off
With just two games left this season to play, Northern Tigers are on track to see every female side they have make an appearance in the finals and secure the Club Championship for 2012. A feat which the club are very, very proud of. With the first team performing at such a high level in recent weeks as well as claiming a 2-0 win over APIA Leichhardt Tigers on Thursday night, expect the girls in green and white to be pushing hard for a win against Olympic. With Grace ?ninja? Ha in fantastic form as well as midfield being dominated by Elena Balicki, the squad from Asquith are fired up and ready for Sunday at Mills Park.
Sydney Olympic were on the winning side of a 2-1 result against the Tigers back in May and will be looking to replicate that result so that they can stay in contention of a place in the finals. With the ability to contain the ball and set the pace of the game, Sydney Olympic have one of the best disciplined teams and one of the best defences in the league, qualities which a number of other clubs are envious of. A draw against Southern Districts might not have been the result which the team really wanted, but was necessary. Against the Tigers, expect Sydney Olympic to do what is necessary to get the desired result.
Western NSW Mariners v Southern Districts
Proctor Park, 3pm kick off
Against Southern Districts back in May, Western NSW Mariners were pulled apart in a 4-0 defeat at Ernie Smith Reserve. With this Round 17 fixture being played at Proctor Park, the Mariners could have the upper hand since they know the environment, how the ball bounces and even how to perform at their peak in the cold Bathurst breeze. Having only won three games all year, this has been the Mariners? season of development. An education to life in the Super League. A win against the Emeralds could be the bright spark the Mariners need to help motivate the squad into glory in 2013.
The Emeralds have occupied almost every position on the Super League ladder this season thanks to a tumbulant season full of injuries, change of leadership and ability to finish off games when needed. That said, sitting just outside the top four, piling on the pressure for a finals appearance, the Emeralds have shown they have the ability to mix it with the best in the competition. A result is exactly what the girls in green need this weekend and against the Mariners, is a strong chance of achieving that. 
-By Peter Nowakowski