A stunning run of form in the second half of the season has seen Canberra United captain Ash Sykes take out her first Westfield W-League Golden Boot.
Sykes scored 12 goals to become the second-highest scoring Golden Boot winner behind only teammate Michelle Heyman’s tally of 15 set five seasons ago, equalling Kyah Simon’s 12 goals in 2010/11.
The pacy Dubbo-raised forward scored an astonishing 11 goals in the past seven matches, to help Canberra win the Premiership with a league-high 33 goals.
Sykes went ahead of Sam Kerr in the final round, with the Perth Glory captain finishing with 10 goals.
Early pace-setter Natasha Dowie impressed with nine goals for bottom side Melbourne Victory, and the English striker was joined by the fast-finishing Adriana Jones on the final day of the season, with teammate Sofia Huerta a further goal adrift.
Sykes, capped 19 times by Australia, adds the accolade to a burgeoning resume which includes last year’s Julie Dolan Medal as best player in the Westfield W-League.
2016/17 Westfield W-League goalscorers
12 goals
Ashleigh Sykes (Canberra United)
10 goals
Sam Kerr (Perth Glory)
9 goals
Natasha Dowie (Melbourne Victory)
Adriana Jones (Adelaide United)
8 goals
Sofia Huerta (Adelaide United)
6 goals
Jess Fishlock (Melbourne City)
Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar)
Rosie Sutton (Perth Glory)
Katie Stengel (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC)
5 goals
Jenna Kingsley (Newcastle Jets)
Jen Hoy (Newcastle Jets)
Racheal Quigley (Adelaide United)
4 goals
Nickoletta Flannery (Canberra United)
Vanessa DiBernardo (Perth Glory)
Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar)
Arin Gilliland (Newcastle Jets)
Kyah Simon (Sydney FC)
3 goals
Leena Khamis (Sydney FC)
Steph Ochs (Canberra United)
Marianna Tabain (Melbourne City)
Grace Maher (Canberra United)
