Sydney University crowned 2016 PS4 NPL NSW Women’s Champions
It was an outright epic encounter at Valentine Sports Park as Heather Garriock’s Sydney University registered a 2-1 extra time victory over a spirited North West Sydney Koalas to clinch the double by taking out this year’s Premiership and now Championship.
It was a tough game with Uni having to battle it out with 10 players for the last ten minutes plus the extra 30 minutes.
Neither side could really create a clear cut opportunity in the first 20 minutes as nerves were evident.
The Koalas thought they had an opener but the goal was rightfully waved away after a push by Rachel Perrins.
The closest either side came to opening the scoring were the Koalas on 25 minutes.
Fantastic work by Tara Andrews on the edge of the area saw her tee up Siahn Bozanic who shot inches wide of the top corner.
Seven minutes before the break Uni had their half chance.
A great cross from the left by Georgia Plessas cleared only as far as Emma Stanbury but the Uni winger sent her shot way over the bar.
Stanbury atoned for her earlier miss with a belter in the 43rd minute.
The Koalas cleared from an Evelyn Chronis cross but only as far as Stanbury 25 metres out.
The lanky midfielder unleashed with a first time volley, giving Chloe Avgoustou no chance in the Koalas goal as the ball went into the top corner.
The second half started much the same as the first, very tense from both sides.
Rachel Soutar had the first chance with a free kick from distance but it sailed over the bar.
A wayward clearance by Uni had them in trouble but somehow they managed to clear their lines.
In the 64th minute the Koalas had an opportunity from a free kick right on the edge of the area.
Bozanic stepped up to the ball and curled her effort just over the cross bar.
Uni threatened on 71 minutes with a flowing counter attack.
Yeoman-Dale broke though, played in Stephanie Ambrose
With just over 15 minutes to go the Koalas had their equaliser.
Substitute, Natalie Penman played in a fantastic ball that Trudy Burke couldn’t deal with, allowing Andrews to tap the ball home to the elation of the Koalas support.
Uni could’ve equalised almost immediately in the 78th minute but somehow Soutar volleyed wide after a goal mouth scramble.
In the 82 minute it was an early shower for Liz O’Reilly who received her second yellow card.
A minute later Andrews could’ve stolen the show for the koalas but Burke made herself big to save well in the one on one situation.
Then Caitlin Campbell was the next to try her luck and she came so close, smacking the post with a powerful effort after a scramble in the box following a corner.
The Koalas had one last chance but the Uni defence held on well to clear and send the game to extra time.
Uni had the first chance in extra time as Soutar let fly from a free kick 30 metres out, the shot seemed to dip at the right time but came back off the bar before the Koalas cleared the danger.
Hannah Beard then hit the cross bar herself after a fantastically taken shot from distance which cannoned off the bar, giving Burke no chance.
Andrews had a good chance with the start of the second period of extra time but Burke saved well.
Three minutes in and Yeoman-Dale almost had Uni back in front, breaking through, beating Avgoustou with her shot but not the post as the ball went out of play.
Six minutes before the end of extra time Uni hit the front.
A fantastic low strike by substitute Hannah Bacon saw her find the small part of net as an outstretched Avgoustou couldn’t get a hand to the ball.
Uni controlled the finish of the game as they registered their second straight Championship, as well as breaking the hoodoo of the Premiers not backing up and taking the Grand Final.
Match Stats
Sydney University 2 (Stanbury 43’, Bacon 114’)
NWS Koalas 1 (Andrews 74’
Sydney University: 1. Burke, 2. Soutar, 4. O’Reilly, 5. King (20. Bacon), 6. Danaskos (16. Woods), 7. Yeoman-Dale, 8. Chronis (3. Guzman), 9. Grey (36. Demetriou), 12. Henry, 13. Plessas (11. Ambrose), 18. Stanbury.
Yellow Card: O’Reilly 58’, 82’, Bacon 99’
Red Card: O’Reilly 82’
North West Sydney Koalas: 88. Avgoustou, 2. Pridmore, 4. Farquhar (15. Penman), 5. Perrins, 6. Davey, 7. Campbell, 8. Tobin, 9. Andrews, 10. Bozanic (92. Ikonomou), 12. Beard, 13. Roberts.
Substitutes: 3. Killey, 17. Peak, 27. Booty.
Yellow card: Tobin 118’
Red Card: N/A
