In what was an already memorable day, the undoubted highlight of Melbourne Victory’s 2-0 W-League Grand Final win over Brisbane Roar was Lauren Barnes’ unexpected bomb of a goal to seal the game.
It all started when Lisa De Vanna brought the ball down the wing, and with few options, she speculatively lobbed the ball back outside the 18-yard-box past Beattie Goad.
The ball then bounced twice uncontested, before Barnes ran into a 50-50 challenge, took one touch, allowed another bounce, and let rip a volley from 25-metres.
Brisbane’s Ballon d’Or winning goalkeeper Nadine Angerer could do little as the ball looped over her head and dipped just under the crossbar, sending the Melbourne fans into raptures.
After the game, the American defender marvelled in a rare long-range strike, crediting her move further forward in a more central role.
“I don’t score very much, I’m usually a centre back or a left back so playing in the midfield has been awesome for me, it’s been so much fun,” Barnes said.
Asked what was going through her head when she saw the ball there to be won, Barnes said it happened naturally.
“To be honest, in the run of the game I don’t think I’m thinking that fast.
“I just knew I had to get there, and it had a good bounce and I’m left footed and I could hit it with my left, and I did!”
Barnes has experienced a lot in her career to date, but has actually never been involved in a winning team at the highest level.
The American never doubted the chances of the club to win the title since arriving from Seattle, given the nature of the squad.
“This is my first [title winning side] besides like a high school team so it’s amazing,” she said.
“As any soccer player, you play to be in a championship so it’s always in your head especially because we’re all so competitive.”
One of the big reasons Victory were able to play so well was Barnes’ midfield partnership with Katie Hoyle, and she credited the New Zealand international, along with Jessica Fishlock and Lisa De Vanna for keeping their nerve throughout the game.
“They all have a lot of experience which is always beneficial for us,” she said.
“They really took some leadership for the younger girls and the younger girls were confident to follow on, and that’s what we needed.”
One of the youngsters who showed plenty of confidence was 16-year-old starlet Beattie Goad, who had an outstanding game, and she came in for special praise from Barnes.
“I think she’s amazing, I always have. She’s going to be such a great player, she already is.
“She’s got so much more time to experience all this.”
Barnes also reserved special praise for the Melbourne Victory home fans, who turned out in great numbers on a beautiful afternoon at Lakeside Stadium.
“They were awesome; having our own Victory fans out there, it’s so fun,” she said.
‘That just makes it all worth it in the end, we put in so much work to win, but then you have the fans there to support you all the time.”
And so after a brief but very successful stint in Australia, scoring two match-winning finals goals and winning her first senior trophy, Barnes now plans to return home to the U.S. and start pre-season training with Seattle Reign alongside teammate Jess Fishlock.
Melbourne fans will be hoping both internationals return next season to help defend Victory’s hard-earned W-League crown.