Claudia Mihocic: the comeback and the glory

By Kieran Yap 18/9/23 (Kieran84@live.com.au)

Above: Claudia Mihocic in action for Bulleen in Victoria’s NPLW. Photo: Gold Leaf Creative.

Bulleen’s premiership winning campaign also saw the return of one of Australia’s best young defenders from injury. Claudia Mihocic talks about her comeback season, and what lays ahead with Perth Glory.

Bulleen and Calder United had played over 100 minutes of the semi-final. Scores were level, and neither side had been able to make a breakthrough during extra time. With penalties looming Bulleen had a free kick from a deep and central position. When the ball was curled in, defender Claudia Mihocic reacted sharpest. She sprung the off-side trap and directed the ball into the net to send the premiers into the Grand Final.

As one of the NPLW’s best centre backs, scoring dramatic winners is not Mihocic’s main role, but it was a moment of deserved joy after she had spent much of the previous 12 months sidelined through injury.

The celebrations were chaotic. Teammate Alana Jancevski was first on the scene and collided with Mihocic with cartoonish jubilation before the rest of the Bulleen team joined in.

“I remember I was so excited, I started sprinting.” Mihocic said to Impetus Football.

“I was looking back at the Line-o just in case they were going to call it offside.

“When I turned my head I saw Alana and I though ‘oh no I haven’t though this through.’

“A couple of the girls said that they thought I hit my top speed during that celebration.

“The main feeling that the end of the game was relief that none of us had to take any penalties.

“In the moment it was very exciting. I didn’t really know how to celebrate hence me running full speed at Alana and getting taken out.

“It was really exciting and we really banded together after the 90 minutes. I think we picked back up and we fought right to the end. It was nice to get that win to be able to contribute in that way.”

That winning goal had capped off a terrific season for the highly regarded centre back in which she returned to form and fitness after a challenging year.

An injury sustained while playing in a Nike FC Cup classic for South Melbourne last season meant that Mihocic missed the entirety of Perth Glory’s A-League campaign. She had remained a target of the Bulleen Lions recruiters and manager Caitlin Friend offered her the ideal environment to return to the pitch.

“The things I’ve heard from the players and the kind of environment she spoke about and what they were looking to achieve this year aligned with what I wanted for myself.

“Coming back from injury and coming off the A-League season, I think it was the best place for me to be able to contribute to the team.

“The quality of players and the training sessions that I was doing really helped get my confidence back up in terms of the on-field stuff.

“We had a great strength and conditioning coach that helped with building up my strength and fitness.

“A big thing for me with this NPL season was getting my confidence back and getting game minutes and building off the previous experience that I hadn’t had for a good while over the last W-league and the injury before that.”

Mihocic was also the ideal player for Bulleen. Defensive quality has been a trademark of Caitlin Friend’s teams, and the former NTC captain effectively stepped into the boots of Melbourne Victory star Kayla Morrison.

Alongside the likes of Katie Beck, Leah Muldeary and Alex Natoli, Mihocic formed a defensive unit that had the equal best record in the league.

On top of that, her impressive passing range and composure on the ball helped Bulleen maintain possession, absorb pressure and start attacks from deep. Mihocic is as likely to pass the ball into midfield as she is to make a well timed sliding tackle, and  she has the technical ability to make both look easy.

She also scored two vital goals. The semi-final winner was the most dramatic, but a volleyed effort against Heidelberg was another reminder of her class at either end of the pitch.

The Round 13 fixture was a turning point in the season. The winner went into second place on an increasingly tight ladder. After scoring with a well struck volley and holding Heidelberg scoreless, it was also the game in which Mihocic felt like she was getting back to her best.

“I remember going into that game, mentally ready to go and pretty fired up.

“Performance wise, I was happy with my defending and on the ball stuff.

“The goal was nice,” she recollects.

“It’s always nice to score as a centre back.

“It was more the quality of actions that I was quite happy with, and there was a lot more consistency in that game, which was something I was trying to build back.”

Bulleen never dropped out of the top four after that match and were eventually crowned premiers on the final day of the season. Although they were beaten in the Nike FC Cup Final and the Grand Final, they were the only side in contention for all three trophies. To end the season ontop of the ladder vindicated the faith placed in Mihocic, and her decision to join the club.

“It was great,” she says of lifting the premiers plate.

“Especially after that NIKE FC Cup final, it was nice that we finished on top.

“It proved to us that we’d been consistent all season.

“We had a pretty good defensive record throughout the season. it was a good boost for a whole team, the backline in particular and Gaby (Garton) our goalkeeper.

“It was nice to win something that showed that throughout the past few months that we had been consistently a very good team.”

The NPLW continued through the Women’s World Cup. Far from the global even being a distraction, Mihocic said it helped inspire the Bulleen players during their successful campaign.

“I think the whole excitement and success of the world cup helped us through our football. It was really inspirational. We had a lot of fun at training. We had some world cup inspired training sessions. We all got around it and I think it helped with the excitement and how we were feeling towards our own football.

“It helped in every way for women’s football.

Mihocic is now back at Perth Glory. Her first season at the club was heavily interrupted by Western Australia’s border restrictions at the time, and her second curtailed by injury. The club and manager Alex Epakis re-signed her for the coming season.

Following the retirement of Kim Carroll, Mihocic could be a vital player as the team pushes for finals.

She will also be joined by some new international signings. Epakis has added some Star recruits from The Philippines World Cup squad including gun forward Quinley Quezada. The new faces have added a sense of optimism about the Glory’s season.

“They were great at the world cup. They’ve come into training the past couple of days. They’re quality players, great characters and super easy to talk to. It was cool to see what they did at the World Cup, and how much they’ve really developed and helped Philippines football in such a short time.

“It’s really great to have them on our team.

“We’ve really kicked off pre-season really well,” she says of her return to the A-League club.

 “I think leading into this season, it’s one of the best groups we’ve had.”

“It’s really exciting and after the past couple of season’s where we’ve been so close in making finals, I think this year Alex had brought in some really good players, we all know each other and have gelled. There’s some good characters in the team.

“I’m really looking forward to this season, and pre-season has gotten off to a really good start.”

Claudia Mihocic has already achieved the remarkable. She has overcome a long term injury and claimed a premiership in Victoria’s top flight.

With the A-League Women season about to kick off, the best may still be yet to come.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Westrup header seals draw for Sunderland in battle with Palace

Sunderland 1-1 Crystal Palace

by Ben Gilby (17/9/23)

Above: Sunderland (red and white stripes) look for a way through this afternoon against Crystal Palace. Photo: Sunderland AFC Women.

An equaliser in the 90th minute from Brianna Westrup gave Sunderland a share of the spoils in a hard-fought battle with fellow unbeaten Championship side Crystal Palace.

This was a hugely important early season game with both sides unbeaten having won two and drawn one of their opening three matches. Palace came into the game hot on the heels of a statement-making 9-1 win over Durham last Sunday with Sunderland gaining an extremely impressive win at Southampton.

The hosts started on the front foot and were profiting along the right flank. With five minutes played, a free-kick on this side parallel with the visitors’ penalty area saw Katie Kitching play a ball in high and Liz Ejupi was denied twice in quick succession by the South Londoners’ goalkeeper Natalia Negri.

However, Palace showed their quality in attack, and from their first meaningful entry into the Sunderland box, Annabel Blanchard combined with Elise Hughes who saw an effort blocked. The ball came back to Blanchard who crossed in high from the right to the back post and Hughes nodded home.

Above: Elise Hughes (black shirt) heads home Crystal Palace’s goal this afternoon. Photo: Crystal Palace Women FC.

The visitors had now settled and looked to generate their rapid passing game at every opportunity. Blanchard was probing with her trademark skill. From one such sortie, she found Paige Bailey-Gayle who advanced and hit a shot that was deflected out for a corner.

Aimee Everett was looking comfortable in possession for Palace and looking to direct the play. Bailey-Gayle was continuing to link up with Blanchard in tormenting the home defence across the right-hand side. At this stage, the South Londoners were dominant in possession and looking to spread it at every opportunity.

Yet, as the half entered its final 15 minutes, Sunderland found their second wind. Another Kitching free-kick, this time on the left caused problems and needed to be dealt with by Hughes at the cost of a corner for the Wearsiders.

Above: Crystal Palace’s influential Annabel Blanchard. Photo: Crystal Palace Women FC.

Five minutes before the break, there was a big chance for the home side following another pacey break along the right with the ball delivered towards Jenna Dear who was denied by a superb tackle by Everett.

Palace created one last opportunity as the half ticked towards stoppage time as Blanchard played a high ball in for Molly-Mae Sharpe who turned her defender with no little skill and hit a shot into the side netting from an acute angle.

Sunderland went in at the break behind but in the ascendency. Whilst Crystal Palace were playing the more impressive football and looking more threatening, the Wearsiders were most definitely within striking distance of a comeback.

Above: Louise Griffiths probes for Sunderland this afternoon. Photo: Sunderland AFC Women.

Indeed, the hosts forced the pressure from the re-start with Mary McAteer and Jenna Dear both seeing efforts go over.

However, Palace were still creating opportunities. Sub Araya Dennis was brought down 25 yards out, and Blanchard’s free-kick came in but Shanade Hopcroft’s shot went over the topbar. Felicity Gibbons then broke through and her cross from the left came back off the bar. Dennis then hit a low shot that Claudia Moan saved before the Sunderland goalkeeper denied Blanchard in a one-on-one showdown.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Sunderland stepped up the pace. Katie Watson was brought down by Gibbons parallel to the 18-yard line. The resulting free-kick came in high but was headed away before Negri was called on to hold the follow-up.

Above: Jessica Brown (left) looks to create for Sunderland this afternoon. Photo: Sunderland AFC Women.

The home side continued to press, and with two minutes of normal time remaining, a long ball through was headed wide by Ellen Jones. With the game becoming increasingly physical as the sides entered what would be 10 minutes of stoppage time, the Wearsiders struck.

Natasha Fenton’s free-kick came in from the right high and was back headed into the net amidst raucous scenes by Westrup.

There was still time for Sunderland to create one final golden opportunity to take all the points as another free-kick was played in by Kitching. Negri saved, and an attempted follow-up from the hosts went wide of the left-hand post.

This was a hugely enjoyable battle of two able sides. With the Championship seemingly more open than ever before this season, it’s certainly not beyond either side to mount a sustained promotion push once the campaign resumes in a fortnight’s time after the international break.

Teams: SUNDERLAND: Moan, Brown, Goddard, Westrup, Griffiths, Kitching, Fenton, Dear, McAteer, Ede, Ejupi. Substitutes: Borthwick, Rouse, Scarr, Watson, Jones, Cassap, McCatty, McInnes, Corbyn.

Scorer: Westrup 90′.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Negri, Reilly, Everett, Nolan, Gibbons, Filbey, Hopcroft, Blanchard, Bailey-Gayle, Hughes, Sharpe. Substitutes: Wright, Johnson, Cataldo, Arthur, Doran, Potter, Dennis, Guyett.

Scorer: Hughes 8′.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Red hot RedStar seal second successive Top Four Cup win

Perth RedStar 4-1 Perth SC

Report by Ben Gilby, photos supplied by Rob Lizzi (17/9/23)

Above: Perth RedStar celebrate after their Top Four Cup Final win. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

Perth RedStar produced an all-round impressive display to retain their Football Top Four Cup title with victory over Perth SC at the State Football Centre.

An intelligent defensive structure that was maintained with outstanding discipline, marshaled by the outstanding Andreia Teixeira allied with a typically ruthless attacking display ensured that more silverware found its way into the RedStar Arena trophy cabinet.

Both sides went into the game with some changes of personnel from their previous Top Four Cup clashes with Perth RedStar able to bring Bronwyn Studman back into defence. For The Azzurri, head coach Pete Rakic’s perennial selection headache eased slightly with Jess Flannery’s return from State U18 Schoolgirl duty, and Matilda Bohm back available after sitting an exam that clashed with the side’s preliminary final on Wednesday.

Above: Perth RedStar and Perth SC (Sky blue) tussle for possession in the Top Four Cup Final. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

Perth RedStar came into the Grand Final after seeing off Perth SC last weekend to the tune of 5-1 in the major semi-final. That result last Sunday forced Perth SC into a preliminary final in midweek against Hyundai NTC, who overcame Fremantle City to qualify for the encounter. A hugely impressive opening 45 minutes sealed Perth’s 3-0 win over the NTC to set up this encounter at the State Football Centre.

Perth SC could point to some success against Carlos Vega Mena’s side this season, coming from behind to win the Night Series Final on penalties, and also defeating them in the State Cup – this was a game that had the potential to be a fitting way to bring down the curtain on the NPLW WA season.

RedStar imposed themselves on the game from the start, maintaining an ultra-high press that made it extremely tough for their opponents to escape their own half. It was particularly successful in causing serious challenges for Perth SC to play out from the back.

With just eight minutes on the clock, RedStar’s possession and territory domination translated onto the scoreboard. Chiori Ikeda cut the ball back from the right for Renee Leota to hit a shot that Rebecca Bennett palmed away in the Perth goal, but the ball fell for Jay Coleman to fire back. The Azzurri defence repelled the danger, but only as far as the edge of the box where the ball was headed down into the path of Reina Kagami to take a touch, turn and lift a shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Above: Perth SC’s Ella Lincoln (left) looks to get away from Chiori Ikeda. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

Perth SC continued to find it hard to break out of the stranglehold, but they were not without opportunities. With 23 minutes gone, Ella Lincoln probed and provided a centimeter-perfect pass for Gemma Craine to drive forward and unleash a powerful drive from the edge of the area that Maya Diederichsen pushed over the top.

On the half-hour mark, RedStar threatened once more. Coleman broke through from the right and found Leota who hit a side-footed shot that was repelled by Bennett’s hand at the cost of a corner. Ikeda’s flag kick came in high from the left and, with Bennett surrounded by players as she jumped, the referee ruled in her favour as RedStar players claimed to have forced the ball over the line.

The final chance of the half fell Perth SC’s way as Lincoln broke before cutting in and firing a shot into the side netting.

Despite being forced on the back foot for much of the opening half, Perth SC crucially went in at the break only one goal behind. If they could find a way for key players Jess Flannery and Lincoln to get more touches and entries into the final third, then a comeback was still eminently possible.

Above: Olivia Wood lifts the ball over Rebecca Bennett to double Perth RedStar’s lead. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

However, that was not to be. After an opening ten minutes of the second period that yielded few clear-cut chances, it was RedStar who broke through. A throw-in on the left from Studman produced an attempted back pass by Bohm that didn’t have enough pace on it, allowing Olivia Wood to steal in and lift over Bennett.

The league champions continued to press, with Bennett called into action to keep her side in the game, denying both Leota’s high shot and Abbey Woolley after the sub was played through clinically by Kagami.

Above: The impressive Abbey Woolley who scored one goal and provided an assist after coming on as a substitute. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

With 20 minutes remaining, Perth SC rallied with the creative trio of Flannery, Lincoln, and Craine instrumental – but crucially, they were unable to force saves out of Diederichsen despite forcing a number of corners in the spell.

As always seems to be the case when playing RedStar, if chances created against them are not matched by goals scored, Carlos Vega Mena’s side has a habit of making you pay – and this was displayed once again. With five minutes remaining, Kagami threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Woolley to slot home.

Bennett was called upon once more to save her team shortly afterwards as she denied Wood who broke through to a one-on-one with her.

Above: Perth RedStar’s two-goal Olivia Wood (10). Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

However, as the clock ticked towards stoppage time at the end, Wood had better luck as she was played through in Woolley, brought it down on the edge of the box, and fired home for 4-0.

Four minutes into added-on time, The Azzurri got some reward for their efforts as Craine broke through the centre and found sub Emily Henderson outside her to supply a low ball in which was forced over the line by Faye Phillips after a scramble.

Above: An almighty scramble on the goal line that ended with Faye Phillips forcing the ball home for Perth SC. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.

Whilst the season has ended in bitter disappointment for Perth SC, when the dust settles, they have so much to be proud of. A first piece of silverware won in the Night Series, plus a second-place finish in the league and runners-up spot in the Top Four Cup after a season which saw the squad decimated by injuries.

It is only fitting that the final word goes to Perth RedStar. They are a champion team in every possible way. Whilst, overall the NPLW WA felt a lot tighter this year, they were still able to come out on top when it mattered and produced a style of football that was outstanding.

Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Diederichsen, Studman, K. Carroll, Teixeira, Dunn, S. Carroll, Coleman, Kagami, Ikeda, Leota, Wood. Substitutes: O’Donohoe, Ridley, Doan, Woolley, Mogridge, Ritchie, Neal.

Scorers: Kagami 8′. Wood 54′, 89′. Woolley 85′.

PERTH SC: Bennett, Cook, Connolly, Bohm, Phillips, Godding, Papalia, Jarvis, Flannery, Lincoln, Craine. Substitutes: Meakins, van Heurck, Duncanson, Ottobrino, Caceres, Tulp, Henderson.

Scorer: Phillips 90+4′.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Middlesbrough: Integration, The Riverside and Michael Mulhern

By Hannah Neal (16/9/23)

Above: Middlesbrough Women celebrate Beth Guy’s equaliser against Hull City. Photo: Matthew Appleby/Impetus

This weekend, almost four months on from the integration of Middlesbrough Women into the men’s club, Boro Women will play at the Riverside Stadium for the very first time when they take on Stockport County in the tier four FAWNL Division One North.

Michael (Mick) Mulhern, the newly appointed Middlesbrough Women’s manager, has an incredible 15 years of experience in the women’s game coaching Sunderland Ladies, taking them to an FA Cup final and promotion to the WSL in 2014. Mulhern has been a helping hand in the careers of many successful players such as Lionesses Beth Mead, Jill Scott and Lucy Bronze, who recently won the Euros in the summer of 2022, changing the pathway of women’s football forever.

Middlesbrough’s 2023/24 National League season kicked off on the 20th August with a 0-0 draw against Norton and Stockton Ancients, followed by a 4-1 loss against Hull City and two 1-0 wins over Durham Cestria and Leeds United respectively. 

Ahead of their first game at the Riverside on Sunday, I had the privilege to speak to Michael Mulhern.

Many women’s teams are playing in their men’s team’s stadiums, especially in the WSL and the Championship, so for Boro to be playing at the Riverside Stadium – a place so famous on Teesside – shows the club’s dedication to the women’s game, especially at Tier 4 football. ‘’It’s massive for women’s football, something that’s been growing over the recent years where it’s become almost the norm to play at the club’’.

Many players in Mulhern’s side are local girls who have grown up as fans in the crowd, so being able to play for the team they grew up supporting in that very stadium is rather special. A big occasion like this could easily affect a player’s mindset so to prevent that, the team visited the stadium prior to the game to ‘’feel the atmosphere with nobody in’’ and ‘’get an idea of what it’s like’’ so the stadium feels familiar – ‘’I’ve done that before at other clubs I’ve been in, women’s and men’s. It certainly helps, so hopefully it will help on Sunday.’’ Mulhern claimed. 

Above: Lauren Robson returns to Middlesbrough after a successful season with Newcastle United. Photo: Matthew Appleby/Impetus

Mulhern’s success with Sunderland has made him a well-rounded coach, working with the likes of Jordan Nobbs, Beth Mead, and Lucy Bronze – all northern girls who had to travel to progress their footballing careers.

Middlesbrough FC are showing Teesside what they have available, right here. Girls in the area no longer need to go elsewhere to follow their dreams and having a coach that has produced eight successful lionesses running the place… well it doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

He has done it all before with Sunderland, over fifteen years, a process that includes a little bit of failure, reflection, and improvement. Mulhern stated that after a successful inaugural year in the National League, ‘’fourteen players were scouted to go to America for their education’’ which forced Boro’s boss to turn to other options to select players, such as the Academy. 

‘’The first thing I did here was create links to the ETC (Emerging Talent Centre) to put that in place straight away, so we are growing our own’’. Not only does he want the club to have Teesside girls, but Mulhern also wants ‘’to be scouting the girls that are from Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland,’’ the way he did during his time with the latter. He claims that Middlesbrough will have ‘’that same sort of net.”

Working for the FA as a talent scout, Mulhern had a ‘’good idea of the talent pool in the country’’ and coming in as Middlesbrough manager he stated he ‘’didn’t have to think about who I’d bring in, I knew all the players’’. He mentioned questioning whether getting those players was realistic and that some players were still out of his grasp but – ‘’moving forward they are target as we develop’.”

Since becoming head coach, Mulhern has signed twelve players, including two from the talent club, creating a whole new team. Six of those players, have joined Boro after their successful season winning the league title with Newcastle United and I think this really shows the influence Michael Mulhern has and proving he has brought that ‘’same net’’ with him.

Above: Middlesbrough’s Ella Baker – one of the two players who signed from the Talent Club. Photo: Matthew Appleby/Impetus 

Once again, the part he played in so many players who are now household names should not be overlooked, and it was likely a selling point for the new signings to come to Middlesbrough.

With that in mind, Mulhern says he has ‘’a couple of good young ones here who I’ve been working with over the last three to four months and there’s a potential future for them with England,” but also mentioned ‘’there are girls out there now who are playing junior football and we don’t know who they are yet.”

Mulhern says the proudest moments in his career are ‘’when players represent their country, it’s always been a proud moment to watch them play for England.”

When the Lionesses won the European Championships last year, Mulhern said ‘’I was sitting there watching thinking of those players I’ve worked with – some were under 23s and I was proud to have been their England coach working with those players – but it was the ones I’ve worked with from a younger age and seeing them get success.”

I think it is safe to say that we haven’t seen the last of the Lionesses produced by Michael Mulhern, I am truly excited to see what he brings to Middlesbrough. Boro Women take the stage under the Riverside Lights on Sunday at 2pm, in front of what’s due to be their largest attendance yet.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Victory bring Lydia Williams back to the A-League Women

16/9/23

Above: Experienced Matildas’ goalkeeper Lydia Williams has returned to the A-League Women. Photo: Sky Sports.

Melbourne Victory today announced the signing of Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams for the 2023/24 A-League Women season.

The 35-year-old joins the Club on a two-year deal from English WSL side Brighton and Hove Albion, previously representing Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in her past three seasons away from Australia.

Williams has made 120 appearances in the A-League Women’s competition, winning four Championships and winning the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award four times. The goalkeeper has also made over 100 appearances for the Matildas, representing her country at five World Cups and two Olympic Games to add to her illustrious career.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said Williams will be an important addition to the squad for the upcoming season.

“We’re thrilled to have a goalkeeper of Lydia’s calibre in the squad for the upcoming campaign. Her experience not only at A-League level but across Europe and internationally will be an invaluable asset to our squad on and off the field.

“We’re confident we’ve built a squad this season that will challenge for the Championship. The work starts now for us to come together as a team and use the upcoming pre-season to continue the momentum of last season and return to the summit in 2024.”

Williams was also looking forward to her return to Australia. “I’m excited to be returning home and representing Melbourne Victory this season,” the goalkeeper said.

“Jeff and the team have built an incredible squad for the upcoming season and I’m looking forward to playing my role and contributing to the squad.

“After such an exciting period for our sport, to be returning to the competition where I started my career and had so many great memories is an honour for me but I also want to continue making great memories with the team and the Club.”

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Foord & Catley’s “well-oiled machine” to become even finer with Cooney-Cross’ arrival

by Genevieve Henry (16/9/23)

Above: Steph Catley (left) and Caitlin Foord’s telepathic connection at club and country is reaping rewards. Photo: Arsenal FC.

Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley play like a well-oiled machine, pumping out chances and baffling the opponents. Arsenal’s Aussies have a relationship matched by no other duo in football, and it’s no wonder why this is. 

Foord and Catley have been playing alongside one another for Australia since they were 14. Those fifteen years of experience show whenever they step out onto the pitch together. They have a next-level understanding of one another’s movements. If Foord records an assist, it’s more than likely that she got the ball from Catley, and vice-versa.

When Catley goes forward, Foord covers for her. When Foord weaves in and out of the opposing defence, Catley is there to provide an option. When Catley sends the ball up the field, it finds Foord’s feet before the one can blink.

When these two combine, making incredible movements with both spoken and silent communication, opponents and fans alike are left speechless. While Foord plays well all over the front three, especially as one of two strikers, it’s hard to argue with playing her on left, as it unlocks a connection that’s hard to lose.

Above: Caitlin Foord holds off a Reading challenge last season. Photo: Andy Wicks for Impetus.

One can almost picture it: Catley, flying down the left, lays the ball off to Foord, who taps it back into her path. Foord rushes into the box alongside her teammates as Catley sends in a pinpoint cross. This practised move becomes less impressive every time because this dynamic duo treats fans to almost artistic spectacularities on the regular.

For Australia, the pair share a kind of telepathy. The trust they share is evident, knowing that if one errs, the other will be there to back them up. Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has attributed this success to their connection at Arsenal.

In the post-match press conference after last October’s match against South Africa, Gustavsson said “That’s not our work, that’s the players and Arsenal. It is a privilege for me to bring them in and do the same thing here.”

An example of their connection is their performance against Canada in the World Cup. In Sam Kerr’s absence, Foord shifted from the centre to the left, allowing for this partnership to flourish. Her and Catley combined to create almost every chance of the match, as well as quelling attacks before they became dangerous. Time and time again, these two show what a dream team really is.

Not only do these players know each other’s game inside and out due to their time as teammates, but also due to their time as rivals. In their time in both the Australian A-League Women (W-League at the time) and the United States National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), these players never overlapped at one club. Foord and Catley competed fiercely for titles for years. But now they’re competing together. 

Above: Matildas’ young gun Kyra Cooney-Cross unveiled as a Gunner this week to add to the Australian telepathy network in North London. Photo: Arsenal Women.

Both Foord and Catley have improved immensely since joining Arsenal’s ranks. The famous English club has transformed them from good players to some of the best players in the world. With fellow Australian Kyra Cooney-Cross joining them in North London, one can only imagine this partnership will grow to include the young superstar, to the benefit of both club and country.

Cooney-Cross in the midfield will add an extra option for both Foord and Catley going forward. With her famous driving runs up the pitch, Foord can position herself in the box to attempt to pounce, and Catley can stick out wide to alleviate pressure or cross. The Australians are sure to impress this season for Arsenal.

If they keep playing the way they know best, one can’t imagine anything but success. 

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Championship News

Impetus has the latest news from England’s second tier with reports from Reading, London City Lionesses, and Crystal Palace (15/9/23).

Above: Reading boss Liam Gilbert, who spoke to the media earlier this week. Photo: Reading FC Women.

Reading

by Mia Kipling (15/9/23)

Ahead of Reading’s home game with Southampton this weekend, Royals boss Liam Gilbert reflected on the challenge ahead both on Sunday and longer term.

Taking over as Reading ahead of the season was a big step for Gilbert upon leaving Oxford United as manager.  

One of the challenges he faced on taking over in Berkshire was a loss of 13 players, and when asked about this, Gilbert said: “The best thing about coming in fresh to this, from my side of things we haven’t lost anything.

“I’m coming into a group that is brand new, it’s a new collective, the mindset and mentality we use is that we’re a new entity. we’re making a fresh start here for every player whether your brand new or you’ve been here for four, five years that we’re now going to be a collective.”  

Reading had a disappointing WSL campaign last season, avoiding defeat in only five of their 22 matches. Gilbert reflected on how he wants to improve this season “We want to have our identity with the ball and we want be a team that is enjoyable to watch. We’ve got some players that played in the Super League last year that play with us that are very technically good. We know that we now can try get the best out of them.” 

Reading and Southampton have played once before this weekend’s game, back in November 2022 with Reading winning 3-0 (Troelsgaard 5’, Wade 38’, and Vanhaevermaet 60’). The Royals will be looking for a repeat performance on Sunday to record their first win of the campaign after three successive draws. Conversely, the Saints stand in third.

A knock-on of Reading’s relegation from the WSL was the move to becoming part-time after associated issues with the parent men’s club. Gilbert doesn’t see this adversely impacting the club at all, and highlighted how: “From what I see, the club’s not part-time. We’re at 2:50pm now and there’s two players sat doing analysis with the assistant coach.”  

The Royals’ chief speaks highly of all his squad who he refers to “a group of players that are going above and beyond to be the best version of themselves and be the best they can be for the football club.” He is firmly of the belief that the club has “a group…that are all pushing each other and pulling in the same direction.” 

London City Lionesses

Above: Paige Culver (yellow kit) – newly signed by London City Lionesses. Photo: Kent State Athletics.

London City Lionesses this evening announced another key arrival as defender Paige Culver joined on a one-year contract.

The Canadian, formerly of Frauen Bundesliga club Turbine Potsdam, arrived at Princes Park ahead of the transfer deadline and is available for selection this weekend.

“England is such a growing environment for women’s football and it felt like a really exciting opportunity when I spoke with the coaches about the project they are working on here,” said Culver.

“I’m a big communicator, which is one of my strong suits. I like to lead on the field because I’m able to see the whole pitch as a centre-back. I like to distribute possession, so hopefully that’s something I can bring that will help contribute to the success of the team.”

The 26-year-old has amassed a wealth of professional experience across top-division spells in Italy, France, and Germany. Oakville-born Culver played four seasons in the NCAA with Kent State University, for whom she emerged as a defensive mainstay and made 80 appearances.

Transfers to Pink Bari (Italian Serie A), ASJ Soyaux, Girondins Bordeaux (French D1), IFK Kalmar (Swedish Damallsvenskan), and Turbine Potsdam (German Bundesliga) followed for the talented defender, who is excited for her first experience in England.

“I’ve dipped my hand into a lot of different leagues, which has been great,” she explained. “You learn a lot while moving around different countries, so I’m excited to be here, settle in, and bring my experience from those leagues to help the team and prove myself here.

Head Coach Carolina Morace added: “Paige has a lot of experience and has played professionally in many countries around Europe. We needed an expert player to join us at centre-back and I think she will help us a lot because it is a long season and it is also important to have many players who are comfortable in her position.

“The centre-back position has changed the most in the last decade, with how many passes those are players to expected to complete. She’s tall, and we like that, and we are confident she will fit into our style of play.”

Crystal Palace

by Ben Gilby

Above: Lucy Watson, who joins Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea. Artwork: Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace have announced the arrival of attacker Lucy Watson on loan from Chelsea.

The 19-year-old arrived at the WSL champions in July 2022 from Sheffield United on a two-year deal and originally went out on loan to Palace’s South London rivals Charlton Athletic before suffering a devastating ACL injury just over 12 months ago.

Watson’s arrival at Crystal Palace looks set to provide the young attacker with a chance to step up her recovery and have more game time among a Palace time that looks set to be mounting a strong push for a place in the WSL next season.

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!

Victory and Canberra unveil new arrivals

15/9/23

Above: New Melbourne Victory singing McKenzie Weinert. Photo: University of Washington Athletics.

Melbourne Victory today announced the signing of American forward McKenzie Weinert for the 2023/24 A-League Women season.

The 24-year-old joins the club from American NWSL side OL Reign where she made two appearances for the club as a National Team Replacement Player during the Women’s World Cup period.

Weinert is a graduate of the University of Washington, making 37 appearances and scoring eight times for the Huskies, and was a part of OL Reign’s extended squad in the 2023 pre-season where she scored against Club America.

Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said he was looking forward to adding more firepower to his final third.

“We’re thrilled to have McKenzie join the Club for the upcoming season. McKenzie is an exciting, young forward who is coming to us fresh from her stint with OL Reign in the NWSL and we believe she will have the attributes to be a force in the A-League.

“We’ve built an incredibly competitive squad for the upcoming season that is going to push each other to be better every day. McKenzie’s addition will add to this further and we’re excited to see what she has in store for the season ahead.”

Weinert spoke of her anticipation at heading to the A-League with Melbourne Victory. “I’m excited to be heading to Australia and representing Melbourne Victory this season,” Weinert said. “This is my first experience abroad and I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead with this Club and this team.”

Canberra United
Above: Deven Jackson in action for Eastern Suburbs in New Zealand. Photo: Shane Wenzlick.

New Zealand striker Deven Jackson is the latest player to sign for Canberra United for the 2023/24 Liberty A-League season after agreeing a deal to come to the National Capital Club from Eastern Suburbs.
 
The fleet-footed attacker, who made her Football Ferns debut against the USA in a pre-World Cup Warm-up match, becomes the fourth Kiwi to sign for United.
 
“We are extremely pleased to announce that Deven Jackson has joined the club from Eastern Suburbs for the new A-League season,” Canberra United Head Coach Njegosh Popovich commented.
 
“Deven is a very exciting talent. She has great technique, plenty of pace, and has an eye for goal which is is critical at the elite level. Having made her debut for New Zealand, Deven is beginning to understand how top-level football works.
 
“As a forward, Deven has all the attributes you look for, including a combative presence that makes life difficult for defenders. I am sure she will settle into the squad very quickly and will play an integral part in our 2023/24 season.”
 
After returning to competitive football following a three-year absence in 2022, Jackson helped her Auckland club side Eastern Suburbs to the National League title after producing a starring role in the final, scoring two goals and setting up two others to beat Western Springs 4-0.
 
Indeed, she would have been celebrating a hat-trick had her ninth-minute effort, the opening goal of the match, not ultimately been credited as an own goal.

Jackson also netted three goals in three games as part of the New Zealand U19 outfit that won the Oceania Football Confederation U19 Women’s Championship back in 2017, before a succession of setbacks stalled her promising career.
 
“I am delighted to have signed for Canberra United for the new season and m thankful to Njegosh and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do at this level,” Jackson said.
 
“I know a lot about the club from watching the Liberty A-League and have been impressed by the atmosphere I have seen at McKellar Park. I am really looking forward to arriving in Canberra and showing the fans what I can do. This is a tremendous opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to start.”

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!
 

Junior reporter prize winner interviews Pride Park star

Earlier this year, Impetus chief editor Ben Gilby was on the judging panel for our partner club Pride Park’s Junior reporter competition. The prize for the three best entries was the opportunity to interview a Pride Park first-team player which we would publish on the site (14/9/23).

Above: Summer Evans (blue shirt) in action for Pride Park. Photo: Shaun Hardwick.

At the end of last season, Pride Park FC ran a competition to find our best Junior Reporters. To enter, participants were asked to submit no more than five questions they would like to ask one of our first team players – with the winners picked out by our expert football panel, including Impetus editor Ben Gilby, Jen O’Neill the Editor of She Kicks Magazine and Faye Hackwell, freelance journalist and blog writer for Her Game Too. 

In the second of our winners’ interviews, Katie-Louise of our newest team, the under nine Pumas, put her questions to striker Summer Evans:

Kate-Louise: What age did you first start football and why did you choose Pride Park?

Summer: I started playing football from being a small child and played right up until I was about 16 – I then had a break and started again when I was 23, that was when I found Pride Park. There was no doubt in my mind that I would try anywhere else after a few weeks during summer playing five-a-side with the Pride Park girls at Willows, because the girls just made me feel so welcome and I just seemed to slot in. 

Kate-Louise: How many goals have you scored? 

Summer: Our statto tells me I have scored 82 goals in 74 league and cup games. In terms of achievements with goals – I’ll never forget setting a club record of scoring seven in one game and scoring our first goal in the Women’s FA Cup. 

Kate-Louise: Have you ever been bullied about playing football? 

Summer: I haven’t ever been bullied about playing football actually. I grew up playing football since a small child and always played with all the boys when I was in primary school. 

Kate-Louise: What inspired you to keep going playing football? 

Summer: I found my love for football again after having my daughter and I wanted a hobby. I was actually inspired by going to watch my best friend’s horse shows on weekends (show jumping) and watching her achieve ribbons and socialise with a group of people that love the same thing. I missed having the sense of achievement. So that was what gave me the push to get back into football.

Katie-Louise: Who is your biggest fan?

Summer: Definitely my dad 

Katie-Louise: Thank you, Summer

Summer: Great questions, and you’re welcome!

Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!