Victoria’s WPL All-Stars have claimed a 4-1 Seasol Bass Strait Cup triumph over Tasmania on Saturday at the Veneto Club in Bulleen.
After Taryne Boudreau cancelled out Rani Cavaretta’s early opener it was mostly one way traffic, with Sarah Jacobs, Natalie Martineau and Em Coppock adding goals in the second half.
The Tasmanian front third – consisting of Boroondara Eagles players Rani Cavaretta, Lucy Johnson and Aimee Medwin – were firing early, as Cavaretta and Medwin forced early saves out of Beth Mason-Jones.
Johnson then found Cavaretta in the box for a curling finish, giving the visitors a ninth minute lead.
Victoria started to find their feet thereafter, with Taryne Boudreau taking a number of shots on target, including one passage of play that saw her nutmeg Louisa Marmion before having a strike saved by Amelia Vander Neit.
Boudreau was rewarded with a goal in the 23rd minute, played through by Em Coppock before rounding the ‘keeper for a finish into an empty net.
The two nearly combined again when the former played through the latter for a one-on-one opportunity, though Coppock’s effort at the near post missed wide.
Despite Victoria’s ascendancy for the remainder of the half, Tasmania had a golden opportunity to snatch the lead before the break when Johnson’s diagonal ball found Medwin in the box, but her shot flew straight at Mason-Jones.
Victoria raced out of the blocks in the second half when Taryne Boudreau’s cross was spilt by Amelia Dover Kavanagh, allowing Jacobs to pounce for a tap in.
Tasmania looked to make amends and Caitlin Storay nearly found the back of the net when her powerful hit from distance forced Mason-Jones to hold her save on the second attempt.
The hosts once again found the momentum and an impressive passing move between Cardaci, Jacobs, Coppock and Boudreau ended with the Canadian firing a shot from close range over the bar.
Boudreau was at it again moments later, forcing a spectacular save with a curling left-footed effort from distance.
At the other end, Innocent Micheal showed Tasmania still had fight left in them, going on a mazy run past one defender before forcing a save.
However, the sealer came from Martineau, who latched onto Jacobs’ long pass to tuck a finish past the ‘keeper.
Mason-Jones then produced one more good stop to deny Tasmania, pounding on Storay who was played in by Georgia Foote.
Youngster Irena Malliaras almost added a goal to her name in a late cameo, but her shot from Boudreau’s cutback was desperately palmed over.
Coppock finished off proceedings in added time with a speculative effort from outside the box that slipped through the ‘keepers hands and bounced over the line.
Victoria 4 (Boudreau 23′, Jacobs 48′, Martineau 77′, Coppock 90′) defeated Tasmania 1 (Cavaratta 9′) at the Veneto Club.
Victoria interchange: 1. Beth Mason-Jones (GK), 2. Sarah Jacobs, 3. Lisa Farquhar, 4. Jess Tay, 5. Elly Torre, 6. Natalie Martineau, 7. Taryne Boudreau, 8. Alexi Garcia, 9. Emily Coppock, 10. Hayley Geurts, 11. Irena Malliaras, 12. Daniella Galluccio, 14. Christine Pfeiffer, 16. Harriet Cordner, 21. Christina Cardaci, 22. Emily Dolzan
Tasmania Interchange: 18. Amelia Vander Neit (GK), 11. Isabella Gee, 4. Harkana Dixon, 12. Louisa Marmion, 15. Olivia Edwards, 7. Caitlin Storay, 8. Adelyn Ayton, 2. Jessie Williams, 10. Lucy Johnson, 9. Rani Cavaretta, 17. Aimee Medwin, 5. Ellie Gavalas, 6. Innocent Michael, 13. Hanna Manuela, 14. Georgia Foote, 14. Amelia Dover Kavanagh (GK)