The Hyundai Football West Academy have opened up a two-point lead at the top of the NPLWA – Women’s competition following a 4-0 win at Murdoch University on Sunday afternoon.
It was a good weekend for the youngsters as their two nearest rivals dropped points, meaning they hold the league’s only remaining 100% record after four rounds.
Steve Walmsley’s side led on 24 minutes when Klaudia Houlis showed great persistence down the left before rolling across for Theodora Moutihys to arrive in the box, take a touch and score.
NPLW RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Moutihys turned provider 10 minutes later when her cross from the right broke nicely for Xuri Dalton to poke in a first senior NPL goal.
Hopes of a comeback were dashed for Murdoch 30 seconds after the restart when Lacey Heys picked a perfectly weighted pass for skipper Klaudia Houlis to sweep past goalkeeper Kaitlyn Mohan.
Mouithys added another midway through the second half after being put through on goal by Dalton to finish a lovely team move with conviction, as the Academy made it four wins from four to start 2025.
Perth SC are now in second place after being pegged back by a late Subiaco goal in a 1-1 draw.
Chloe Taylor had the game's first major chance for the visitors when set clear by Nikayla Hughes’ pass but Dayle Schroder was equal to the forward’s effort.
The Azzurri scored the opener just past the half-hour mark when Jess Flannery was fouled just outside the area and Kim McCartney curled the resulting free-kick beyond Monique Todd.
Subiaco levelled six minutes from time when Tayna Campos’ defence-splitting pass found Stella Zampogna who rolled across the six-yard box for Marianna Tabain to tap in.
Both sides had chances to win it with Perth's Epril Nossent denied by Todd before Tabain fired over the bar as it ended all square.
Elsewhere, Perth RedStar and Fremantle City shared the points in a 0-0 draw at RedStar Arena.
RedStar had the better first-half chances with Andreia Texiera going on a terrific solo run before seeing her shot blocked, while Caitlin Doeglas’ effort cannoned back off the bar.
But Freo created more chances in the second half with Mikayla Lyons hitting the side netting from Leyna Wood’s cross, before being denied one-on-one by Gabby Dal Busco.
Dal Busco then made a terrific save from Abbey Green following Erin Siah’s cutback as it stayed goalless with RedStar five points off the top, while Freo remain in the bottom half in search of their first win.
Finally, Jamie-Lee Gale scored a hat-trick as Balcatta Etna cruised to a 5-1 win at UWA Nedlands.
Gale’s opener came when Mia Britton was patient on the ball and waited for the run of midfielder Abbey Meakins, who pulled across goal for the former Perth Glory winger to finish.
Zoee Spadano made it 2-0 with a free-kick which flew directly in from wide on the right before Gale converted Rachel Jarvis’ cross at the back post for three by half time.
Gale’s hat-trick was completed 15 minutes from time when released by an excellent through ball from Spadano and rounding the goalkeeper to slot in. The treble took Gale’s total to six for the season and she is now the division's top scorer.
Uni’s Chloe Rodrigo was fouled by Mia Hargreaves in the box which led to Samara Riches pulling a consolation goal back from the spot. But Meakins made it 5-1 late on when curling calmly into the bottom corner as Etna went level on points with third-placed RedStar.