NPLW Team of the Week: Round 11

by Staff Writers 0

GK: Erin Hudson (Alamein FC)
While the Alamein FC keeper didn’t have too much to do in the way of shot-stopping, Hudson had a dependable game for Alamein. The youngster was confident coming off her line and in plucking the many aerial balls that came through her penalty area.

LB: Alex Gummer (South Melbourne)
South didn’t have to play anywhere near their best to beat a flat Heidelberg, with Gummer’s well-taken goal the highlight of a game that had few memorable moments. Deployed at left back, her full-field adaptability remains a huge asset for her side.

CB: Jess Tay (Galaxy United)
A raking assist and otherwise sound defensive performance for the Galaxy centre back, who remains one of the most committed and energetic players in the league. Although their goal was breached once by Bayside, it was no fault of her own as Runnalls hit the back of the net from 30 yards.

CB: Rachel Binning (Calder United)
Another commanding performance from Calder’s talismanic defender who was superior all afternoon in the air to help restrict the efforts Box Hill had on goal.

RB: Ashleigh Lefevre (Alamein FC)
Squeezes onto the right defensive flank for this week’s Team of the Week after a solid defensive performance for Alamein, Lefevre was highly effective in nullifying Lia Privitelli on the wing, going toe-to-toe with her for pace and limiting her output on the contest to finish with a clean sheet.

DM: Jamie Pollock (South Melbourne)
A goal and an assist for the all-action midfielder marks a solid outing as South claimed the three points. Assisted heavily in shutting out the Bergers midfield who were kept very restricted across the 90 minutes at Lakeside. A clever dummy in the build up to Gummer’s goal was another highlight.

CM: Sofia Sakalis (Senior NTC)
Many would have forgiven the NTC attacker for leaving the game after being poleaxed by Southern goalkeeper Christine Fonua in the first half, but Sakalis showed her toughness to play out the game, scoring a goal and laying off two assists with seemingly no ill effects of the fearsome collision.

CM: Candela Ferreyra Bas (Southern United)
Off the back of 120 minutes mid-week in the cup, Southern faded badly as they chased Sunday’s game against the Senior NTC, with one notable exception. Candela Ferreyra Bas provided a combativeness in midfield and her forward forays kept Southern hoping until the 90th minute that a late comeback was possible.

LW: Savanna Anstasopoulos (Southern United)
Two goals and an assist in a half marked an incredible return for the young Southern winger, still just 17 years of age. While chances dried up in the second half, the pace and finishing touch of the young forward made her Southern’s stand-out player

ST: Laura Spiranovic (Galaxy United)
Powerful on the ball and typically clinical in front of goal, Spiranovic punished Bayside to full effect from her chances. Her will to drive Galaxy to victory was no better showcased than her solo goal to round out her first hat-trick of the NPLW era.

RW: Kyra Cooney-Cross (Senior NTC)
There are no superlatives left to describe this prodigious talent, who’s second hat-trick of the season takes Cooney-Cross to 11 goals. At just 15 years and three months old, W-League and national honours cannot come soon enough.

Bench:

Bethany Mason-Jones (Calder United)
Like Hudson, Mason-Jones didn’t have the busiest of afternoons, but helped her side keep a clean sheet by sweeping clear off her line when required and making the saves when required.

Holly Furphy (Senior NTC)
The 14-year-old forward doesn’t just make her first TOTW off the back of a maiden senior goal, but also a composed and classy display that showed her comfort on the ball and confidence to take on defenders. The reigning top scorer from the U18’s division has arrived at senior level.

Rachel Alonso (Calder United)
Stepping foot on the site of her Goal of the Season winning bicycle kick from the 2016 season, Alonso once again lit up Wembley park with two contender’s for the 2017 award. She opened the scoring with a belting free-kick, while her second was an even sweeter struck effort from 30 yards that left opposition keeper Alyssa Dall’oste for dead.

Leia Varley (Senior NTC)
NTC may have conceded three first half goals but Varley’s pick is a cumulative one for a number of nearly performances. Deployed either as a centre or full back, the NTC defender continues to show her swift footwork and ability to break at pace up the pitch at a moment’s notice. The youngster picked the right time to showcase her attacking talent, on display for all to see in Sunday’s web-stream game.

Whitney Knight (Galaxy United)
The winger’s pace is starting to return after finding her legs on the long road back from a knee reconstruction. Knight’s errant pass may have given the ball away for Bayside’s only goal, but a first strike of the season soon after has knight ahead of the ledger for this week. Sadie Murphy and Adriana Taranto were other solid contributors for Galaxy.

Kristina Hall (Box Hill United)
An admirable performer in a losing side, Hall threw her body about the park in order to try wrestle ascendency in the tie against Calder United. Her impact was unable to change the result, but she was one of the standouts – from both sides – at Wembley Park.

Janna Lawson (Alamein FC)
It was her bursting run down the left flank that set up the deciding goal in Alamein FC’s win over Bulleen Lions. She had an industrious game and the former NTC graduate was the player that looked the most likely to break the game open.