By Kieran Yap 11/6/24
Above: Box Hill celebrate Rhianna Pollicina’s first goal of the afternoon.
A sparkling performance from Rhianna Pollicina was the difference in a high scoring encounter between Box Hill United and Brunswick Juventus.
Box Hill’s mid-season arrival was the star of the show, scoring twice and setting up two more in a 4-3 win at CB Smith Reserve. However, the Zebra’s put up an entertaining fight and were in the game until the final whistle.
Brunswick created the first chance of the game. MelindaJ Barbieri controlled a long ball with one touch and then played in Nicole Cooper behind the defence with her second. The ball across goal was narrowly missed by Sophie Papalia’s outstretched boot, and Box Hill’s defence escaped unscathed.
Pollicina put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute. She picked up the ball from deep and unleashed a stunning long-range effort leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The A-League All-Star was in ominous form and after a darting run into the penalty area the ball fell to Elwen Parbery at the far post who finished well to make it 2-0.
Brunswick Juventus pulled themselves back into the game when Papalia’s cross was turned into her own net by Laura Pickett. It was an unfortunate error from the young defender and uncharacteristic in an otherwise strong game at the back.
With Holly Murray pulling the strings in midfield, and Sofia Sakalis linking up well with Pollicina, Box Hill looked in control for much of the game, but were always susceptible to the counter attack. Belinda Stojcevski’s well timed tackle denied Papalia a good chance on goal after another Barbieri long pass put her behind the visitor’s defence.
Pollicina restored the two goal buffer with another piece of magic. Murray found her at the edge of the box and two skilful turns created space for the shot from close range.
Karina Tolios scored a fortuitous goal for Brunswick to make it 3-2 when her looping cross evaded everyone in the penalty area to bounce in for the afternoon’s fifth goal.
Pollicina was the architect once again when she played a defence splitting pass for Deven Jackson to run through and finish coolly. The score was 4-2 but Brunswick ensured an exciting finale when Barbieri raced behind the Box Hill defence and scored the seventh and final goal of the game.
The final score was 4-3, and Box Hill climbed to ninth on the table. The recruits of Murray, Pollicina and Jackson are all huge coups for the club. It ensures depth in a team that relied heavily on Sakalis last season.
Brunswick remain at the bottom of the table, but the addition of Barbieri gives them a fighting chance against any opposition, however the issue remains the amount of goals that they concede.
It was a highlight packed game. two brilliant solo goals from Pollicina were impossible to stop, and two of Brunswick’s goals were very lucky, but in the end Box Hill were deserved winners. To Brunswick’s credit, they were made to earn it.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Facebook: @impetuswomensfootball Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 