Strikers' feats always attract plenty of praise but coach Harmonie Attwill reserved special mention for her back line after Newcastle Olympic put one hand on the Herald Women's Premier League minor premiership on Sunday.
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While Jemma House bagged her eighth hat-trick of the season to set up Olympic's important 4-0 win over Broadmeadow, Attwill was equally pleased with a strong defensive effort.
"We wanted to play a really attacking style against Magic and played three in the back, which was a bit different for us," Attwill said.
"I was really impressed with Danielle Nicol at right-back. Her job was to keep [Magic's] Lucy [Jerram] out of the game and she did a great job. And you can't go past [centre-back] Sophie O'Brien. She's not the fastest player on the field but she's smart enough to put herself in the right position and no one really got past her. Soph's positioning is perfect and they didn't score."
With one round remaining before finals, Olympic lead on 31 points with the league's best attacking and defensive record. They are three points clear of second-placed Magic with a far superior goal difference and are unlikely to be headed for the minor premiership.
They have already secured the reserve-grade minor title. Olympic's 17s are second on goal difference but on the same points as leaders Merewether and their 14s will finish third.
Olympic host New Lambton at Darling Street Oval on Sunday.
New Eagles coach
New Lambton have appointed Greg Lowe as WPL head coach for next year. Lowe coached with the Newcastle Jets Academy and Valentine's WPL program and is the Eagles goalkeeping technical director.
Former Newcastle Jets W-League player Maddy Searl has been named Eagles reserve-grade coach.
Eagles interim coach Cas Wright said they would "throw everything and everyone" at their last game of the season this weekend. The Eagles have been struggling with numbers due to a mounting injury toll and Wright continued to call on youth to fill the void.
Reserve-grade player Emily Ridgeway made her first-grade debut in a 4-2 win over Thornton last weekend.
"Emily's young enough to play 17s," Wright said. "She played centrally, did really well and didn't look out of place."
Rising talent
Adamstown's Emma Bates is making a name for herself as a set-piece specialist with two more free kicks into the top corners in a 4-1 win over Mid Coast in round 13.
Defender Clare Hughes and attacking player Madalyn Campbell made their first-grade debuts in the match.
"Clare played centre-back and did a really good job," Rosebud coach Ryan Campbell said. "I think she will back up and play again this week, so she'll probably get a chance to mark Jen Hoy, which is a good challenge when it's only going to be your second game in first grade."
United celebration
Merewether president and coach Scott Ellis said the club were inviting anyone who has been involved with United since their WPL journey began in 2009 to get along to Arthur Edden Oval on Sunday to celebrate their final home game of the season.
United and Adamstown are the only clubs to have played in every WPL campaign since the competition's inception.
"We would like people to attend from 2pm on, with the idea of getting a photograph of all the previous and current players, coaches, managers and helpers out on the field, suitably distanced, at 2.30pm," Ellis said.