In one of the most entertaining finals in Victorian football, Boroondara Eagles have claimed the Team App Cup, triumphing 5-3 over Bulleen Lions at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
The first early goal to Amy Jackson – who ended the contest with a brace – sparked an open and free-flowing encounter, with goals also shared between Racheal Quigley, Em Coppock, Taryne Boudreau, Rani Cavaretta, Cindy Lay and a spectacular own goal to Maddie Stockdale.
The first opportunity of the contest fell the Eagles’ way, as Ash Callaghan played a long ball to Taryne Boudreau, who dribbled to the wing and crossed in a dangerous delivery that bobbled past Aliesha Newman.
Bulleen fashioned the first clear-cut chance moments later, as a long pass over the top was controlled by Lay and passed off to Gudelj, who struck the ball at Lanning.
It took just 16 minutes for the Eagles to take the lead when Boudreau slipped Jackson through on goal, with the W-League stalwart making no mistake with the finish at the far post.
Beattie Goad was soon introduced off the interchange bench and made an immediate impact, finding Alex Natoli for a long range strike that forced a fingertip save from Anna Lanning.
The Lions hit back in the 20th minute through Racheal Quigley, whose thunderous 25-yard drive found its way over the goal-line via the crossbar and Anna Lanning.
The Eagles took the advantage once more in bizarre circumstances, when a ball in behind Bulleen’s defence was chased down by both Boudreau and Maddie Stockdale, with the latter’s attempted clearance lobbing over Cassie Dimovski and into the goals.
Ironically, it was the first time the defender found the back of the net this season.
Amy Jackson then increased the lead to two goals with a beautifully executed chip over the ‘keeper.
Boroondara nearly made it four goals when Sarah Jacobs played a lovely delivery to find Boudreau on the break, but Emily Dolzan put her body on the line to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Bulleen pulled one goal back before half-time, when a set-piece whipped in by Dolzan bounced around in the box and was Bundled in by Em Coppock following a goal-line scramble.
After both teams exchanged a few blows each early in the second period – including a few penalty shouts by Bulleen that were turned away – Boudreau scored the most spectacular goal of the game with a mazy run past her defenders, followed by a curling left-footed effort.
Bulleen once again set about pegging back a two-goal deficit, and almost immediately struck when a cross was headed across the face of goal by Goad to Coppock, who forced Lanning into a diving save.
However, for every foray forward the Lions were equally as vulnerable at the back, as Boudreau found Callaghan marauding forward for a shot that missed just missed wide, before Amy Jackson’s effort hit the post to deny her a hat-trick.
Cavaretta did eventually make it five goals with a tricky run down the centre of the park and a clinical finish past Dimovski.
Cindy Lay got one back for her side almost immediately, but it acted as consolation only, with the Eagles holding on for a thrilling 5-3 victory.
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Boroondara Eagles 5 (Jackson 16’ 27, OG 23’, Boudreau 56’, Cavarretta 84’) defeated FC Bulleen Lions 3 (Quigley 20’, Dolzan 42, Lay 85’) at Lakeside Stadium
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Anna LANNING (GK), 10. Emma GROSS, 6. Ash CALLAGHAN, 5. Sky JENSEN, 9. Alex GUMMER, 22. Liv ELLIS, 11. Aliesha NEWMAN, 15. Amy JACKSON, 7. Taryne BOUDREAU, 2. Sarah JACOBS, 31. Rani CAVARRETTA, 17. Emma HUBBARD, 12. Sarah PETTY, 13. Marie SMITH, 25. Bindi BRYCE, 21. Alondra VILLA (GK)
FC Bulleen Lions: 1. Cassie DIMOVSKI (GK), 3. Isabella SCOTT, 5. Maddie STOCKDALE, 12. Liana IACONIS, 22. Emily DOLZAN, 2. Tessa SERNIO, 21. Racheal QUIGLEY, 20. Alex NATOLI, 6. Caitlin FRIEND, 16. Beattie GOAD, 8. Cindy LAY, 7. Ashleigh BEAGLEY, 14. Charlotte MCGILP, 4. Bianca TRIMBOLI, 43. Tori SNELLEKSZ, 10. Emily COPPOCK