Perth RedStar have taken a huge step to retaining their NPLWA - Women’s title on a day they hammered Subiaco and saw their nearest rivals Fremantle City beaten in an eight-goal thriller.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side moved seven points clear of Freo, whose hopes of claiming their maiden NPL crown were dented in a high-scoring loss to Hyundai NTC.
Reina Kagami scored a hat-trick as RedStar romped to a 7-0 win in Round 13 at RedStar Arena.
The hosts went in front when Renee Leota turned her opponent and slotted into the bottom corner after only nine minutes.
Olivia Wood slid across for Chiori Ikeda to make it 2-0 before compatriot Kagami curled home spectacularly to make it a dozen goals for the campaign.
Kagami then became the division’s outright leading scorer when finishing Wood’s nudge across goal to make it four at the break, and the goals continue to flow for the leaders after the restart.
Kagami’s hat-trick goal, and 14th this term, was too hot for Louise Gishubl in the Subiaco goal, before Leota got her second in fortuitous circumstances as a clearance cannoned off the forward and in.
Abbey Woolley stayed onside to lash in a seventh and make it goals in three successive games, as RedStar’s unbeaten charge extended to 12 games. Subiaco, meanwhile, remain in seventh place with the gap to fourth now 15 points.
Hyundai NTC gave themselves a boost in confidence heading into next week’s NTC Challenge as they defeated Fremantle 5-3 in a Sunday afternoon goal fest.
While the youngsters are on tournament duty for the next two rounds, they ended the weekend back in fourth place courtesy of a second win in seven matches and Murdoch University Melville’s loss on Saturday.
It could be a costly defeat for the visitors, though, as their five-match winning streak came to an end.
Tanika Lala hit the post with an early attempt, but the Goldfields striker was involved in the opener on 33 minutes when she got to the byline and squared for Ischia Brooking to tap in.
Freo responded quickly when Olivia Trueman teed up Kayla McCulloch to curl in superbly via the underside of the bar, but Lala got her goal on the stroke of half-time at the second time of asking after Danelle Cornish saved her first attempt with Freo’s defence appealing in vain for offside.
Jamie-Lee Gale crashed an effort off the bar early in the second period for CIty, but Ben Anderton’s team extended their lead with 22 minutes remaining as Violet Longmore’s blocked drive broke for Grace Johnston to fire low into the corner from 20 yards.
Faye Chambers’ team pulled one back with 13 minutes left as NTC got in a tangle at the back and Trueman teed up substitute Mikayla Lyons to score a fourth goal of the season.
The home team restored their two-goal break when Violet Longmore’s pinpoint cross was put in by Louise Tana, but Lyons answered promptly with a back-post volley from Gale’s cross to make it 4-3.
But a fourth in eight minutes and the best of the lot ultimately cemented three points for the hosts. Georgia Cassidy scored a superbly struck swerving free-kick from 35 yards as NTC ended the round two points clear of fifth-placed Murdoch University Melville.
On Saturday evening MUM FC were taken apart by Balcatta Etna, who kept their hopes alive of reaching the top four with an emphatic 6-0 win at Besteam Stadium.
Etna are five points outside the play-offs with a game in a hand, while MUM FC drop out of the four following back-to-back losses.
Sam Mathers forced Balcatta keeper Gabby Dal Busco into an early save, but Etna went in front on 17 minutes when Monique Prinsloo crossed for Tia Stonehill to make it 10 goals for the season.
Former Murdoch defender Baxter Thew headed in Kim McCartney’s corner for a first goal in Balcatta colours since returning to WA, which gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break.
They had a third three minutes after the restart when Prinsloo’s shot after a short goal kick was saved by stand-in goalkeeper Andrea Preiato, only for that block to hit Rosie Lehane and go in for an own goal.
Nossent slipped Stonehill through to rattle in a fourth before McCartney fired a long-range effort past the goalkeeper for five.
Stonehill capped the victory against her old club after sneaking in and rounding the goalkeeper before netting and joining opposition forward Mathers on 12 goals for the campaign.
The round began on Friday with Jess Flannery, Ella Lincoln and Stella Zampogna all scoring twice each as Perth SC won 6-2 at bottom side Curtin University.
Having registered a hat-trick last week against NTC, Flannery got the opener on 18 minutes when heading in Lincoln’s cross from the right.
Lincoln slotted into a vacant goal after miscommunication in Curtin’s defence on the edge of the box, and soon after Zampogna planted high into the net after a one-two with Abbey Meakins.
Flannery found the corner to make it 4-0 and five goals in two games, but Curtin did register before the break when Tiana Botha’s quick feet and cross found Olivia Tangney for a tap-in from six yards.
Zampogna finished from close range as Perth got a fifth early in the second period, only for Curtin to score again with Botha bagging a beauty from the edge of area to give the hosts two goals in a game for the first time in 2023.
Curtin remain bottom and without a point though, while Lincoln’s turn and strike made it six to give the Azzurri successive wins to keep them entrenched in the top four.
Round 13 results
Curtin University 2-6 Perth SC
Hyundai NTC 5-3 Fremantle City
Murdoch University Melville 0-6 Balcatta Etna
Perth RedStar 7-0 Subiaco