JABER READY TO SHINE ON FINALS DAY

One of Sydney University SFC’s shining young stars Tiana Jaber cannot wait to hit the hallowed pitch that is Valentine Sports Park as she hopes to clinch, along with her teammates, the 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Championship against Manly United on Sunday.

The 20-year-old was one happy footballer after Uni took care of business in last weekend’s semi-finals match taking out Northern Tigers with a devastating performance coming home with a 4-0 victory booking their ticket and the favouritism tag to the big dance.

“I was definitely thrilled with my team’s performance, we played well together for the total ninety minutes and there was never a drop in effort or focus on our performance which was evident by the score.

“I think us girls deserve to be going in as the favourites, we have worked really hard all season and have pushed each other to play our best.

“We are really well prepared by our great coaching staff, so we are really excited for the weekend.”

Standing in Jaber and Sydney Uni’s way is a determined Manly United outfit who are hoping they can send their well-respected coach Chris Williams out on a winning note as one of their major sources of motivation.

“Manly are a great team who work really hard but to be honest, as long as we play our game and stick to our game plan, we all believe we can face any team no matter who they have.

“I’m confident with the girls we have and know what we are all capable of doing on that football pitch.

“I’m very excited for us to have made the grand final, for our team, our coaches, the club and the supporters.

“I hope we can bring the trophy home for them and for the club.

The former Glenwood Redbacks junior promoted how huge it will be for the club to lift not just the double following their Premiership success but for their reserve grade side to also taste Championship victory this weekend.

“Winning both finals this weekend means a lot to the club and to us girls as it’s a major compliment to how hard we have worked together as a whole squad.

“We have a really great environment at training and the club really looks after us girls.

“Every single person at the club has put in so much effort, it really means a lot that we finish off strong for them.”

- By Mark Stavroulakis, Football NSW

FINALS SERIES ROUND 1 REVIEW – NPL NSW WOMEN’S

The 2020 National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s top tier Grand Final has been settled with Sydney University once again ready to battle for the title when they face a hungry Manly United who dashed Sydney Olympic’s house in an epic match-up.

Here’s how both matches unfolded in the official Football NSW review.

It was like watching ‘The Titanic’ for Sydney Olympic fans.

Cruising, in control…then chaos as the ship sunk.

George Beltsos’ girls fell at the same hurdle last season and it was memories of that heart break after 90+ minutes at Peter Moore Field.

The home team started like a house on fire with Sarah Yatim and Cortnee Vine causing early problems.

It was a nothing through ball through that led to the first goal.

With Vine chasing down the pass, Nicole Simonsen didn’t clear the ball well enough, falling to the worst possible player for United, Teresa Polias.

Polias took one touch and let fly with a sublime shot from almost halfway, finding the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Remy Siemsen should’ve had United level almost immediately but could only manage a shot straight at Jada Mathyssen.

Not long after though, Manly had their equaliser.

Sunny Franco was played in behind the defence, held off Charlotte McLean and blasted beyond Mathyssen to make the score 1-1.

As the match moved toward half time, the home side hit the front once more.

Julia Vignes crossed with her weaker right foot into the danger area as Aimee Phillips got in between two defenders to head the ball home.

The second half looked like Olympic comfortably planning their grand final position.

Until Siemsen created a fine chance and forced an even better save from Mathyssen.

That would be Siemsen’s final effort as she succumbed to an injury, while from the resulting corner, Mathyssen herself looked to sustain a serious shoulder injury, also forcing her off.

The game continued in the same pace as it had with Olympic looking the more dangerous.

But then it was the Elizabeth Copus-Brown show.

She took Mackenzie Hawkesby for a spin, twisting and turning before getting away inside the box and crossing to the far post to an eagerly awaiting Claudia Cholakian who had the easiest of jobs heading in the equaliser.

With the game looking set for extra time, Copus-Brown would deliver again, this time from a corner finding Corrine Winkler who forced the ball home.

Olympic pushed hard for an equaliser but the United defence stood firm.

Chris Williams’ side now plan for another grand final and hope to have Siemsen ready to go for it.

Sydney University 4-0 Northern Tigers 

Sydney Uni booked their place in the 2020 grand final after defeating the Northern Tigers at Arlington Oval.

The score line shows it was a dominant performance from the Premiers but it was much tougher than you think.

It was the home team who were more dominant as you’d expect with chances falling to Demi Koulizakis, Julie Anne-Russell and Kendall Fletcher but the Tigers defence stood firm.

It was a fortuitous goal that would give Uni the lead on the stroke of half time.

Bianca Galic let fly from distance, only for the ball to clip Koulizakis on the head and make its way into the goal.

Uni continued to push forward but were kept at bay all until Grace Maher produced something special in the 84th minute.

Maher picked up the ball inside her own area, dribbled into the Tigers half and blasted a shot into the back of the net from some way out in style.

Was followed was a Tigers collapse as only three minutes later it was 3-0.

Clare Wheeler rounded off a nice team move at the far post, smashing the ball home.

Substitute Michelle Heyman then completed the scoring in stoppage time with another fine goal after starting and subsequently finishing the move with a powerful strike from just inside the area.

-By Football NSW

LONG SERVING PLAYER/STUDENT OFF TO OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Madeleine Kowalenko has been with Sydney University Soccer Football Club since she was just 11 years old. She first came to SUSFC in 2013 and joined our WNPL1 Girls Youth League Program. After being in the Girl’s U13 Premiership-winning side, she was recruited for the FNSW Institute Program, returning to Sydney Uni a year later. Maddy went on to win two U17 Premierships, before taking the step up into our Women’s NPL Senior Squad in 2019. Since then she has played a part in securing back-to-back WNPL Club Championship titles as well as back-to-back Reserve Grade Premierships both in 2019 and 2020.

After receiving an outstanding ATAR mark, Maddy has received a place to attend the prestigious Oxford University, where she will begin her studies in French and German, in early October. Oxford University is currently ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings as well as on the Forbes’s World University Ranking.

Yesterday marked Maddy’s final match in blue and gold, for the time being, in a win over Illawarra Stingrays, but the Club have offered Maddy the chance to return during her Summer break in England.

We are extremely proud of Maddy for being accepted into one of the most recognised universities in the world and being able to study and pursue her love for football by attaining an Oxford Blue in her sport.

Maddy is a prime example of how SUSFC strives to be the leader in creating a pathway for student-athletes, providing them with the foundations to support, promote, and strive towards success in both sport and academia.