Melbourne University have caused a Women’s State Knockout Cup upset, eliminating Boroondara Eagles 2-1 in their third round clash at Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.
Buoyed by their perfect start to the State League One season, yielding three wins from three games, Melbourne University brought with them the confidence required to upset the more fancied, albeit depleted, WPL outfit.
Keryn Walters opened the scoring for the visitors, but just as Boroondara started to control the game, especially after an equaliser through Emma Hubbard, Walters struck again to advance her side into the quarter finals.
Melbourne University dominated early proceedings, getting off to the perfect start in the 7th minute when Richardson ran down the left flank and cut the ball back to Walters, who dribbled past two defenders and scored into the top right corner.
Just five minutes later, Victoria Pettit almost scored a miracle goal when her lobbed free kick from 35-yards caught everybody off guard and sailed agonisingly wide of the goal.
Stephanie Lamenta then ran forward and joined Melbourne’s attack, but her tame effort was easily saved.
It took Boroondara 23 minutes to register their first shot in anger, with Ellen Turner cutting in from the left flank and shooting wide.
From then on, Boroondara started to tighten their grip on the game, but could not generate meaningful chances for the rest of the half, earning numerous corner kicks that did not threaten the Melbourne University defence.
However, the Eagles returned from the break with intent, becoming more clinical in the final third.
In a five minute spell, Turner had the first chance to score, finding herself in a one-on-one situation with Madeleine Horey, but took too long on the ball and her resulting shot was blocked behind the goal by defenders.
Then, three consecutive corners led to frenetic goal line scrambles, which were somehow cleared each time.
However a rampant Boroondara would not be denied, and they found the back of the net just after the hour mark.
Hubbard found herself in the 18-yard box surrounded by defenders, but pulled the trigger anyway, with the ball evading everybody and nestling in the bottom left corner of the net.
One may have assumed that at this point the home side would run away with the game, but the talented Walters would have the final say.
She fired her first warning shot in the 72nd minute, dazzling down the wing and placing a weak strike at Alex Pocklington, who fumbled the save onto the post and out of play.
Eight minutes later, the Melbourne University forward scored the winner, finishing off a mesmerizing run through Boroondara’s defence with a curling shot past Alex Pocklington.
With time running out, the Eagles mustered one effort to force the game into extra time, but Hubbard’s header from the corner cannoned off the post and away to safety.
Melbourne University hung on for victory, delighting the small contingent of travelling fans.
Boroondara Eagles 1 (Hubbard 63’) defeated by Melbourne University 2 (Walters 7’, 80’) at Knox Regional Football Centre.
Teams (in number order due to interchange in effect):
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Alex Pocklington, 2. Hannah Ryan, 8. Ellen Turner, 9. Anna Townshend, 10. Emma Gross, 13. Marie Smith, 16. Aliesha Newman, 17. Emma Hubbard, 18. Kim Shannon, 21. Bec Ryan, 22. Riahannon Jacobs, 29. Georgia Markl, 31. Bindi Bryce, 41. Lizzie Hodgetts
Melbourne University: 1. Madeleine Horey, 7. Nicola Vincent, 9. Keryn Walters, 19. Melissa Greenhill, 21. Kate Richardson, 25. Mara McSweeney, 26. Jessica Ji, 27. Brittany Salt, 29. Devon Smith, 36. Stephanie Lamenta, 37. Victoria Pettit, 39. Rosa Staples, 42. Miranda Fazzalari, 44. Anamika Joijode, 45. Hana Dalton, 49. Anna Bakogianis