Canberra United Academy 7 (Roestbakken 4’, 19’, Grove 30’, 89’, Matic 37’, 73’, Hughes 41’)def. Canberra Olympic 3 (Maher 22’, Kitting 24’, McLaughlin 70’)  

By Mat Stramandinoli

The Canberra United Academy locked in second spot on the table with an emphatic 7-3 victory over Canberra Olympic on a wet and windy Saturday evening at Hawker.

Karly Roestbakken got her side off to a perfect start as she latched onto a through ball behind the Olympic backline and used her time to calmly fire home from inside the area just four minutes in. 

The hosts looked after the weight of possession for the next quarter of an hour and it worked to their advantage as Roestbakken broke forward once more on a terrific solo run and scored to give her side a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes at Hawker.

But the visitors struck back quickly and it took only five minutes for them to draw level in the match; first through a header from Grace Maher and shortly after as Bec Kiting swept home a shot from just inside the 18-yard area.

Olympic looked to have momentum after scoring twice in quick succession, only for the Academy to snatch back the lead on the half hour mark as Sasha Grove found time and space in the box to curl an effort past Gabby O’Brien and in.

And they continued to attack, with first Cecilija Matic and then Laura Hughes adding goals to the tally as half-time approached to give the team a three-goal lead at the break.

While the second half did not live up to the actin of the first in terms of scoreboard damage, the match changed as rain began to pour down at Hawker.

Sally Rojahn had an early chance for Olympic only to flash her header wide as they looked to get back into the game and Grace Maher was orchestrating proceedings in the middle of the park.

With 20 minutes to play Meg McLaughlin was played in behind and she took a great touch before firing home to cut the deficit to two goals with time winding down.

But shortly after the Academy put the game to bed as Matic scored once more, and there was still time for Grove to add a second of her own with time winding down to seal the final score line and put the game firmly out of reach, leaving Olympic in fourth spot and with a finals matchup against Canberra FC.