With her hat trick against Newcastle Jets on the weekend, Caitlin Friend has become the equal highest goalscorer of all-time at Melbourne Victory joining Jodie Taylor at the top of the scoring charts with 12 goals.
It was a fine achievement for the young forward, who also recorded the first ever Melbourne Victory W-League hat trick against Adelaide in 2011.
Friend admitted she had no idea about the record, and was just happy to have the goals coming in all sorts of different ways.
“I wouldn’t have a clue! But it feels good I guess,” Friend said.
“Whatever way you score a goal it always counts and in a month’s time you’re not going to remember how I did it so it’s always good to be up there in the goalscorers because that’s my job.”
“I don’t know about the technique in my goals but you get them and you score them and that’s what gives you confidence.
“Contributing to the team like that is what you need for a striker so I’m happy.”
Friend has been enjoying a fine start to the season so far, banging in five goals in the first four games this season, and it could be argued she has brought over the form she showed at Bundoora United towards the back end of the 2013 Women’s Premier League season.
“Last season I finished off WPL season injured so this year’s been good having a strong ending to the season and coming into Victory pre-season strong so it (end of season WPL form) definitely helps,” she said.
Another factor in her great start to the season has been getting service from the likes of Jess Fishlock and Jessica Samuelsson.
Both were key in the build up play to Friend’s goals on the weekend, and the forward complemented the quality those two bring to the side.
“Jess (Fishlock) and (Jess) Samuelsson both are high standard players, the best in the world and they’re always going to lift the standard of the team and in training and everything,” she said.
“So we’re just gelling as a team a little better and it’s always good to have such high quality players playing with you.
“It just lifts the standard of the whole team and everyone plays better.”