A hat-trick from Racheal Quigley has secured Melbourne Victory a place in the 2014 Westfield W-League finals series, defeating Newcastle Jets 4-0 at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Saturday.
Quigley completed her treble in the 69th minute with substitute Beattie Goad also finding the back of the net in Melbourne’s final regular game of the 2014 season.
The forward converted her first after 22 minutes, following up Lisa De Vanna’s cross which was fumbled into Quigley’s path by Jets ‘keeper Hannah Southwell.
De Vanna then turned provider once again for Goad on the half-hour mark, squaring her cross for the 17-year-old to knock in at the back post.
Quigley then netted her second moments after the restart with De Vanna playing through the 21-year-old who delightfully lobbed Southwell in goals.
Victory’s Hannah Brewer denied Newcastle a way back into the game, blocking Tara Andrews’ goal-bound strike after the forward rounded ‘keeper Brianna Davey.
Quigley then completed her hat-trick with just over 20 minutes to spare, firing Gulcan Koca’s cutback across Southwell and into the back of the net to complete the 4-0 scoreline.
Winning coach Joe Montemurro said his squad was in a strong position.
“I think we can go all way,” Montemurro said.
“As I said I’m proud of the way the players have comported themselves and the way they have gone about things. It’s been fantastic.
“We set ourselves the target to get into the finals and as I’ve said all along, it’s one game at a time, one situation and one team at a time and I think we just gained some nice momentum so it’s good.”
Melbourne departs for Japan on Thursday for the International Women’s Club Championship, where it will square off against Okayama Yunogo Belle on November 30 in the quarter-finals.
Newcastle has two matches remaining for the season with a game in hand over the rest of the competition, but must defeat Adelaide United next weekend to keep its finals hopes intact.
Melbourne Victory 4 (Quigley 23′ 46′ 69′, Goad 31′) defeated Newcastle Jets 0 at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex [HT: 2-0]
Melbourne Victory: 1. Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2. Hannah BREWER, 5. Lauren BARNES, 6. Gema SIMON (16. Beattie GOAD 25′), 7. Stephanie CATLEY (C), 9. Racheal QUIGLEY (29. Caitlin FRIEND 72′), 10. Christine NAIRN, 11. Lisa DE VANNA (17. Gulcan KOCA 63′), 12. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 15. Emma CHECKER, 18. Elli REED.
Unused substitutes: 20. Cassandra DIMOVSKI (GK).
Yellow cards: None.
Red cards: None.
Newcastle Jets: 1. Hannah SOUTHWELL (GK), 2. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 3. Hayley CRAWFORD (24. Brooke MILLER 67′), 5. Katherine REYNOLDS, 6. Angela SALEM, 7. Victoria HUSTER, 8. Amber NEILSON (17. Grace MACINTYRE 84′), 9. Tara ANDREWS, 10. Emily VAN EGMOND (C), 11. Rhali DOBSON (18. Claire WHEELER 86′), 16. Cassidy DAVIS.
Unused substitutes: 20. Claire COELHO (GK).
Yellow cards: Van Egmond (27′), Huster (35′).
Red cards: None.
