Round 13 Review – State League Women’s
Round 13 of the Women’s State League again consisted of key clashes for many teams as they looked to push for top four finals series spots.
UNSW welcomed St George FC while Mt Druitt played host to Western NSW Mariners FC and APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC played bottom of the table Parramatta FC.
Match of the Round
UNSW vs St George FC, Sunday 2nd of July 3pm, David Phillips Complex
In a crucial game for both clubs St George FC travelled to David Phillips Complex to face UNSW.
In a game that had massive ramifications for both clubs top four ambitions it was a certainly a contest that had everything as UNSW ran out 3-2 winners.
On a perfect sunny afternoon, St George started the better of the teams without creating any clear cut chances as the first chance of the game fell to Heidi Cummings of UNSW who dragged her shot wide.
The game though was interrupted only 8 minutes into the game as UNSW player Lara Campbell went down after twisting her knee – we wish Lara the speediest of recoveries.
When the game did eventually resume St George took advantage of the reshuffle to the UNSW team as Lauren Gardner tapped home a side volley after not being tracked from a St George free kick and give her team a 1-0 lead.
UNSW attempted to press and squeeze the space the St George team were able to work in as the game turned into a tight tussle.
The next best chance fell to St George though as Marissa Nicopoulos broke through only to see her shot go straight down the UNSW goalkeeper’s throat.
The half continued to play out as a tough no well fought contest as St George persevered their lead through determined and desperate defending.
The second half began mush as he first ended as UNSW looked to press St George as they looked for an equaliser.
St George though was the team which was creating the better chances as Amy Bennett failed to convert into an open goal after a cut back from Nicopoulos. Nicopoulos herself had a chance to double St George’s lead but dragged her shot wide minutes later.
St George’s inability to find a second goal though was eventually punished as Yadira Rengifo scrambled home an equaliser for UNSW.
The equaliser created a manic last 20 minutes as both teams looked to push forward in search of a winning goal. The next chance fell to St George as Amy Bennett hit her shot over the bar from point blank range.
UNSW then took the lead with barely 10 minutes left on the clock as Alice Kriesler curled her effort past the St George keeper to give UNSW a 2-1 lead.
The lead though was short lived as Nicopoulos lashed home an equaliser for St George a couple of minutes later to bring the scores back to 2-2.The next goal was now surly going to be the winner and that fell to UNSW’s Japanese playmaker An Nagayoshi as she slotted a shot from around 25 yards out .
St George were unable to find another reply as UNSW held on for an invaluable 3-2 win.
UNSW coach Renato Jelen was happy with his team’s determined effort in securing the three points knew the importance of win for his team.
“The draw was no good, we needed three points and were lucky at the end in a game that could have gone either way”.
St George coach Carlo Tini was left frustrated and disappointed in his team walking away from a contest where they were the better team for long stretches but were left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Match Stats
UNSW 3 ( Yadira Rengifo 71’, Alice Kriesler 81’, An Nagayoshi 89’)
St George FC 2 ( Lauren Gardner 10’, Marissa Nicopoulos 83’)
Sunday 2nd of July 2017
David Phillips Complex, Daceyville
UNSW: 6. Claudia Bruno, 35. Lara Campbell ( 29. Celia Brown 8’), 4.Tara Casserly, 21.Cassandra Christopher, 22.Heidi Cummings, 5.Donna Helm, 23.Alice Kriesler, 12.Tiana Milisavljevic, 33.An Nagayoshi, 34.Yadira Rengifo, 36.Miranda Summersby-Mitchell
St George FC: 6. Amy Bennett, 25. Jacklyn Gabriel, 3. Lauren Gardner, 17. Jocobi Kitchen-Gurney, 23. Peta Koinis, 26. Ashley Miller, 9. Marissa Nicopoulos, 4. Antonia Sarikakis, 12. Paloma Shrestha, 7. Carla Smith, 78. Emily Upstone
Unused Substitutes: 2. Serena Bornze, 40. Natasha Gadd, 22.O’Sullivan Lathouras,11. Indiva Bogaljevic
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 1( Stefanie Trovato 19’) vs Western NSW Mariners FC 2( Cushla Rue 3’, Kristy Collingridge), Sunday July 2nd 3pm, Popondetta Park
Western NSW Mariners FC recorded a tough 2-1 away victory over Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC as they consolidated their position in the top four.
In what was a tightly fought contest Cushla Rue got the Mariners off to the perfect start as she found the back of the net after just three minutes.
Mt Druitt though found an equaliser in the 19th minute as Stephanie Trovato continued her strong goal scoring year. The game continued to be played out a fast and competitive pace as both teams pushed for a winner and the all-important three point.
A winner did not look like it was going to come but then in injury time Kristy Collingridge found a winner for the Mariners as they secured and invaluable three points. Mariners coach Jason Payne conceded his team were lucky to grab all three points and were at times sloppy in possession but was happy to go home with all three points.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 9 ( Rachelle Wang x2, Christina Ferreyra , Erin Clout x2, Nicole Carmichael, Rebecca Watts, Carley Dimitropoulos, Alina Stojcevski) vs Parramatta FC 0, Sunday July 2nd 7.30pm, Lambert Park
Top of the table APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC have eased to a comprehensive victory over bottom placed Parramatta FC.
In a game where APIA were rarely tested they continued their unbeaten season as they put 9 past a hapless Parramatta team which is bereft of any confidence.
APIA were missing 5 regulars but this did not seem to affect the team as three players including two from the under 17 squad were given their first team debut. Carley Dimitropolos was one of the girls making their debuts and was able to get herself on the scoresheet as well as 15 year old Alina Stojovski also scoring one of the 9 goals.
Rachelle Wang and Erin Clout both grabbed doubles as APIA consolidated their place at the top of the table. APIA coach Matteo Maiorana was delighted with the three girls who made their debut especially in light of the first grade regulars which were missing.
-By Sebastian Kalos
