Photo: Natasha Morello
Two-time W-League Champion fullback Liv Ellis has departed NPLW outfit Bulleen Lions, effective immediately, to take up a position with Oregon State in the US College system.
The recently turned 18-year-old’s final appearance for her Victorian club side came in last week’s 1-1 draw with Box Hill United, ending a deep association with the club that gave Ellis her break in the Victorian top-flight.
“I’m really excited,” Ellis said.
“It’ll be good to have soccer and school in the one place and just a completely different lifestyle. It’ll be an adventure, but I’m really excited.”
With a penchant for producing brilliant long-range finishes and being one of the only truly two-footed players in the league, Ellis’ impact in the forward third has mirrored her work in defence in recent seasons.
Ellis won the Womens State Knockout Cup and totalled 68 appearances in her three-and-a-bit seasons at Bulleen, having made her debut as a 14-year-old in the 2013 WPL season under the stewardship of Bobby McGuinness.
“This team got me into the Premier League when I was 14, so it’s thanks to them that I have developed. They’re my family so I’ll miss them but they’re a really great club.
She spent a season away from the Veneto Club in 2015, where she featured for both the NTC and the Boroondara Eagles, winning a Minor Premiership and Team App Cup with the latter, with the final ironically played out against Bulleen.
“It was a real turning point [in my career] as it was after that season that I did my first season with City.
“I had a lot of fun that year and there were some great girls; I played with Amy Jackson for the first time, which was really great.”
Her form saw her selected for Melbourne City’s inaugural season in the W-League, where she appeared twice in their title-winning season.
A return to Bulleen followed for the versatile fullback, where she again enjoyed a stellar season, making 19 league appearances – scoring one of the goals of the season – and earning selection for the Young Matildas in the process.
She was selected once again for City’s second W-League campaign and even made an appearance off the bench in the 2-0 Grand Final victory over Perth Glory.
“Playing with girls of such an amazing calibre really opens you up and makes you want to become better and seek the best path to becoming a better player. Development wise it was really helpful.
“It’s hard work, you need to have a good work ethic. Young Matildas was a good experience as well both mentally and professionally to know what it’s like at the top level.”
A potential match-up against former Bulleen and City teammate Beattie Goad awaits, with the flame-haired winger currently lining up for Stanford University, a conference rival of Oregon.
“Beattie is in my conference so I’ll get to play her which is really cool. She’s having so much fun over there and it’s just such an experience soccer wise.”
Ellis is looking forward to testing herself at a new level, where she gets the chance to shift out of her comfort zone and train within a more professional setting.
She’s hoping it will spur her on to further national team endeavours and help springboard a professional career in the sport.
“I’d love to play professionally, maybe at the Matildas, but definitely at a professional club, that would be really good.
“I like the loyal side of being at a club and creating a family there with your teammates, so I’d like to do that.”