Photo: Rachel Bach
Heidelberg United is seeing a changing of the guard as a number of club veterans depart while there will be at least five new faces involved in the senior setup.
Loyal servants Belinda Panella, Michelle Verzi and Julia Nicolaci all depart the club, while Sarah Sumner and Mikayla Lazic join the club, with Eryiel McGookin, Samantha Black and Katrina Tsalikidis all promoted from the youth team.
After previous desires to retire, veteran forward Belinda Panella departs after 200 games for the club.
She was part of the Bergers’ sole women’s top-flight Championship in 2007, playing the whole game as the club defeated Box Hill United.
Panella surpassed the 200-game mark in 2016 and was also part of their victorious Team App Cup side.
Long-serving midfielder Michelle Verzi also departs after three years as captain.
The American enjoyed seven years at Olympic Village, where her leadership qualities and versatility across the defensive and midfield lines made her a club favourite.
Often lining up alongside her was creative midfielder Nicolaci, who began her senior career with Eltham North before moving to Heidelberg in 2008, where she’s featured for the best part of a decade.
Often the link between the defence and the strikers, she was a pivotal distributor to striker Leigh Gray this season, while chipping in with 59 goals in her time with the club, including a 17 goal season in 2015.
Versatile defender/midfielder Sumner joins from State League Four via Galaxy United to help replace the top-flight experienced lost by the Bergers this season.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a glittering Victorian top-flight career that has spanned across four teams, including Altona City, Preston Lions and South Melbourne, winning two Premierships with the latter.
“Sarah is a player that has been under estimated,” said head coach Melissa Barbieri.
“She wants to be successful and that will ultimately make us successful. With such a young team, I’ll be asking Sarah to step into leadership and I know will grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Youngster Mikayla Lazic joins the club from the Senior NTC, where the young forward made 10 league appearances in 2016.
She was also a part a Victorian School Sports Team that took out the 2016 Championship.
“At 16 years of age Mikayla Lazić is one to watch,” read a statement on Heidelberg United’s Facebook page.
“An exciting inclusion at Heidelberg, Mikayla is looking to take her football to the next level”
Juniors Eryiel McGookin, Samantha Black and Katrina Tsalikidis all commit their future at Olympic Village and have been promoted to the senior team for the upcoming season.
Black got a good taste of senior football in 2016, making six starts in the league for the Bergers, as well as teeing up Gray for her hat-trick in their Team App Cup triumph over Bulleen Lions.
The 17-year-old attacker has a bright future ahead of her and will look to make more of an impact in 2017.
Tsalikidis made two appearances off the bench in the latter stages of the NPLW season, but appeared a further four times in their league match-day squad.
She becomes the second youngest player in the Heidelberg United senior squad and Barbieri praised her eagerness to further her own game.
“From the first session I trained with Kat in 2016, she was the most coachable player in the U18’s squad. She had no fear in asking for more feedback and growing as a player.”
McGookin also joins the senior squad ahead of schedule, but she’ll have to wait a little longer to get involved, with an ankle injury holding back her progress.
She was eased into life in the NPLW last season, making three appearances off the bench as a late substitute in the league.
“Eryiel McGookin has been playing in our U18 program and although still eligible, she is heading into the senior squad,” said Barbieri.
“At the moment, Eryiel has been suffering from injury and is looking to get herself healthy after rolling her ankle in the U18 NPL Semi Final.
“Balancing school, football and family life is of the upmost importance for female athletes but none more than physical and mental health.”
Verzi and Nicolaci have both been linked with a move to new NPLW outfit South Melbourne.