There were surprises aplenty as the NPLW Victoria begun in an historic week in Victorian football.
New clubs Galaxy United and Calder United both got wins in their first competitive games, while Senior NTC blew away Heidelberg to the tune of 6-1. As such, the elite-pathways side makes up a large chunk of the inaugural NPLW Victoria Team of the Week for Round One.
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GK: Emily Shields (Box Hill United)
Short of adding the winning goal off her own boot, I don’t know what else goalkeeper Emily Shields could’ve done to contribute to Box Hill United’s 2-1 win over Southern United on Saturday. She was immense, with a save tally somewhere in the double digits, to keep her side in the bout on numerous occasions. The goal she did concede unluckily bounced off the post and back into the American before going in.
LB: Ashleigh Lefevre (Senior NTC)
Utilised mainly as a winger last year, Ash Lefevre started further back this week, but made just as much of an impact in an attacking sense, bursting forward with pace behind her to cause plenty of headaches for Heidelberg United, who were blown away 6-1 by the NTC. One of her side’s standout performers, and capped off a brilliant night with a sixth late in the contest.
CB: Rachel Binning (Calder United)
The best on in Calder United’s important win over Alamein FC, the former Casey Comets defender dealt with everything thrown her way and lead by example with a commanding performance. Did well to keep the attacking threats of Emma Runnalls, Melina Ayres and import Hannah Keane quiet and most importantly goalless. Gulcan Koca was also noted for her good performance.
RB: Hayley Richmond (Senior NTC)
Another winger-turn-fullback makes the NPLW Team of the Week as right-back Hayley Richmond put in an assured display, providing much of the same drive from defence that Lefevre did. Was heavily involved in the build-up to their second goal, while she has continued to show off the defensive side of her game, after spending time in a fullback role in 2015.
LM: Marie Rampal (Calder United)
Scored a goal on her NPLW debut to mark an impressive first outing for the former Keilor Park product. The youngster provided plenty of spark on the wing and took her opportunity to open the scoring well, finishing clean from Enza Barilla’s cut back.
CM: Jamie Pollock (Bulleen Lions)
The American marked her debut with Bulleen Lions with a sparkling display in the centre of the park, also adding a goal from Emily Coppock’s cross to the top of the box. Testament to the depth that Bulleen possess this year, Ali Baker and Tessa Sernio are still to be fully introduced into the line-up, providing plenty of competition for places in the middle of the park.
CM: Jess Tay (Galaxy United)
From a new face at Bulleen, to an old one, Galaxy United’s Jess Tay was one of the standouts in Torquay, capitalising with a close-range finish to gift her side a 1-0 win over Heidelberg United. Played her role linking up the defence and midfield to perfection.
RM: Annabel Martin (Galaxy United)
Utilised on the flank as a wing-back, Martin is of the better wide defenders going forward, but her defensive duties made her a standout for Vince Ierardo’s side. She kept her side quiet while also putting her time with Melbourne Victory to good use, showing no signs of lost fitness as she worked up and down the sideline with boundless energy.
AM: Tiffany Eliadis (Southern United)
Eliadis played quite a fluid role, moving laterally behind the strikers in both a narrow left and right midfield role, interchanging with former South Melbourne teammate Saphri Lines. Eliadis took the game by the scruff of its neck, creating plenty of chances for her attackers, while eventually breaking the deadlock herself with a vicious finish from 25 yards.
ST: Taryne Boudreau (Bulleen Lions)
Boudreau was best afield as Bulleen triumphed 3-0 over Bayside United, and similarly to teammate Pollock, marked her Lions debut by finding the net. She did it twice on either side of the break, the second of which was a stunning dipping shot from 20-yards out.
ST: Alina Zahovic (Senior NTC)
The 15-year-old marked her top-flight debut with a performance that belied her tender years, helping lead the line against Heidelberg United, laying off an assist and grabbing two goals to cap off a brilliant night for the development squad.
Substitutes:
Beth Mason-Jones (Calder United)
The Calder United keeper put in an assured display to help her side to a clean sheet against the healthy attacking line-up of Alamein FC. She made a number of good saves on Saturday afternoon and her distribution by foot was strong throughout, something she’s been working on over the off-season.
Mindy Barbieri (Senior NTC)
The newest Senior NTC captain will have more attention on her after a break out season in the league in 2015. It looks like the added responsibility has helped her as she added a goal – albeit from a keeper error – to a strong performance to become the fourth player from her side to make the cut.
Jasmina Pedic (Box Hill United)
Introduced just before the hour mark, the forward made a big difference for Box Hill United, and worked well with Melanie Camilleri as a front two. Pedic whipped a devilish cross in for her strike partner to tuck home for the equaliser.
Kariah White (Galaxy United)
While White didn’t get amongst the goals on the weekend, the Galaxy United forward was able to get into a number of good goal scoring opportunities and helped create openings with her creativity. Positive signs for the future.