Third win has Marist on top
A third win on the trot has cemented Marist at the top of the women’sw-league table ahead of amuch-anticipated clash this weekend.
Marist beat Wellington team Western Suburbs 4-1 at Memorial Park, Palmerston North, on Saturday to continue their strong start to the season.
After three rounds they top the eight-team league table, sitting ahead of Wellington United Diamonds on goal difference.
In their three winsmarist have scored 14 goals, while conceding just two. Wellington United have netted 12 and let in three.
The two teams face off this weekend in Wellington in what promises to be the clash of the season so far, but Marist should be full of confidence.
Againstwests, Marist didn’t convert early chances into goals and Wests were first to score whenmacey Fraser, a star of the 2018 Under-18 World Cup, found the back of the net in the 21st minute.
Marist, first through Mikaela Boxall, their captain with the golden boot, then Aniela Jensen hit back with two quick goals in the 35th and 38th minutes.
Boxall scored twomore, in the 52nd and 61st, her second hat-trick in two weeks.
‘‘It was a really enjoyable game. There was a large crowd, which I was really pleased to see, cheering on the home team,’’ Marist coach Barry Scullion said.
‘‘That was beneficial to us.’’ As he predicted before the match, Marist were able to exploit Wests’ style of play and seal a confidence-building win against a lineup that included big names.
Scullion said his players were working hard, with video analysis and strength and conditioning as well as the usual training.
The biggest improvement this season was a strong team culture.
‘‘We’ve got quite a young team and they’ve really bought into everything we’re doing.’’
Wellington United had a 5-1 win over Seatoun at the weekend, the same team Marist brushed aside 8-1.