2009 ROUND 11

LUSC Women vs Western Suburbs 9-1

Goals:

Pettit , Tory (4)
Pettit , Tory (11)
Marum, Justine (24)
Massouh , Paula (34)
Garner, Nikki (37)
Massouh , Paula (44)
Pettit , Tory (57)
Massouh , Paula (68)
Own Goal

Goals Assists:

Massouh, Paula (3)
Marum, Justine (2)
Hirst, Naomi (1)

Go Back to Women's First Team Page here


Latrobe Uni Break Record Score

Latrobe Uni Womens Soccer team faced Western Suburbs at home as the second half of the season kicked off. In what was a polished and at times breathtaking performance Latrobe ran riot over their fourth placed rivals, winning comfortably 9-1.

With a strong wind blowing downfield and a determined Western Suburbs, who came off a resounding 7-1 victory the week before, it looked like it was going to be a hard game for Latrobe. And it seemed that it would be that way with both sides locked at 1 all after only nine minutes of play.

Latrobe scored first. Paula Massouh had some nice touches and passed to Justine Marum. She was tightly marked by the alert Western Suburbs defence. Suburbs replied but Melanie Meehan won the ball back through a strong tackle and passed the ball to Tory Pettit. She found Paula who played it across to Naomi Hirst. Naomi raced towards goal and her shot on the run went just over the bar. It was good play from Latrobe. Lisa Doyle robbed the ball off her opponent and passed in to Marte Ur Lovaas who cleared it forward. Suburbs tried to counterattack but it only went as far as Naomi. She played it to Tory who struck the ball well. It was 1-0 to Latrobe after only four minutes of play.

Suburbs won a free kick and the resulting kick went well over with Hannah Matthew-Prosser well positioned in goal. From that threat Latrobe hit back through Rosie Holgate as she raced towards goal. Her shot went just over the bar. The game was fast paced as then Nikki Garner had a chance but it was charged down.

With only nine minutes gone it was 1-1. A free awarded to Suburbs was opportunistically kicked towards goal. Hannah mistimed her run and the wind carried it cruelly over her head and into the goal. Suburbs had hit back and it looked like the game was going to be a well contested encounter.

However that belief was quickly dispelled two minutes later. Nikki got into an excellent position and her hard shot was equally well saved by the keeper who stretched herself out to block the shot. Paula Massouh went past one defender and racing towards goal played a deft touch to Tory. Tory steadied herself and hit it past the keeper. Latrobe were back in front. 2-1.

Thirteen minutes later it was 3-1. Paula raced across the field and crossed the ball into the penalty area for Justine to meet it and tap it in on the far side. It could have been four when Lisa Doyle, pushed into midfield, went past her defender and sent in a cross which Justine got to but couldn’t steer it into the goals. Suburbs brought the ball out but it was quickly retaken by Latrobe as Paula passed to Tory who played it back to Paula who touched it on to Nikki. Nikki crossed it in and Justine got her head to it but the ball went wide. Latrobe were now running riot in the midfield and exerting their dominance.

Suburbs did attack though Beccie Ambrose defended well to push the threat away for a corner. It came to nothing as Latrobe defended it well. Paula received the ball from defence and raced away through the Suburbs defence. Her shot was saved by the keeper, deflecting it against the post and out for a corner. The corner was crossed in and there was a scramble in the penalty area, the ball eventually coming out to Paula. She snapped it past everyone and it hit the back of the net. It was now 4-1.

Such was the dominance by Latrobe that it took them only three more minutes before they were to score their fifth of the game. Lisa again raced away from her hapless marker and played the ball across to Justine. Justine touched it back for Nikki and she did the rest. 5-1. Amazingly it was 6-1 only two minutes later as Rosie applied concerted pressure on the Suburbs defenders. Their desperate attempts at clearing the danger resulted in them kicking the ball into one of their own to deflect back into the goals. An own goal created by Rosie’s persistence.

Rosie was again involved with the next goal. Her run down the wing enabled her to get past the defence and she passed to Justine. Justine, in turn, found Paula with a nice pass. Paula finished it in style, giving the keeper no chance. 7-1 and the referee called a halt for half time.

The second half kicked off with Latrobe having a strong wind behind their backs, making passing difficult. Justine and Lisa combined to threaten the Suburbs goal but the opportunity was lost. Then Paula was able to get away from her marker and found Tory in the middle. Tory sized it up and let fly. The ball hit the back of the net to make it 8-1. It was Tory’s first hat trick of the season!

For the next fifteen minutes Latrobe peppered the Suburbs goal with Nikki feeding Tory but she shot just over. Tory repaid the favour and Nikki shot agonisingly just wide. Paula missed a chance, Rosie played Paula and she shot just over. Western Suburbs could not get the ball up the field as attack after attack came from Latrobe.

Tory received a pass and was fouled. Tory limped away so Paula took it and in a oh so hum approach fired it into the goals and then turned to check on Tory’s condition. It was 9-1. The highest score ever by the Latrobe Womens team and Paula’s second hat trick in successive games!

Justine had a chance to score but tight defending pushed the ball for a corner. It was cleared away only for it to be collected by the Latrobe midfield and Justine played it to Nikki but it was scrambled away by Suburbs. Rosie had a chance and that too was desperately cleared away.

Then Nikki did well to turn away from her opponent and hit a well timed shot. The keeper went down well to palm it away only for it to roll towards Justine with an open goal beckoning. Justine hit the post! The final ten minutes of play was all Latrobe as successive players had chances to add to the score line but shots went wide or well over. The game was finally brought to a close to the relief of the Western Suburbs players who cheered ironically that they did not have double digits scored against them.

Latrobe Committee member John Antonopoulos, watching his first game, was suitably taken aback. “I was very impressed watching the girls play. They pass and move around so well. Defenders seem to know what to do in certain situations and everyone works well together. It was great to watch.”

Latrobe Uni coach Victor Sekulov added, “I am running out of words to describe the way we played today. Against an incredibly strong wind we were focused and deliberate in our play. Having a goal scored against us, which in itself is a rarity, we focused on the task at hand and scored our highest number of goals in a game. We have scored a massive 27 goals in three games. We certainly are doing things right.

The sense of teamwork and support is clearly evident. Everyone works for everyone. We support as a unit, attack and defend as one. I was very happy with our performance today."

Latrobe Uni will be travelling away to face Bundoora in a top of the table clash. Kickoff is at 12.30pm.