Soccer stars ready to shine under lights

FRIDAY night lights will be in action for the S-League senior women this week.

In the return of Football Federation Sunraysia fixturing following the successful hosting of the country champions last weekend, Nichols Point and Mildura City will go head-to-head at Soccer Park under lights from 7.15pm.

Before that, Mildura City will face Nichols Point in under-13 action, while an Irymple Knights derby will take place between the Green and Black sides, both matches beginning at 6pm.

Pointers senior women’s coach Sam Christmas said the experience was an exciting opportunity.

“We’re back into it this week with a Friday-night game which for a lot of players will be their first time, especially for the under-13 girls who are playing as well,” Christmas said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and playing against Mildura City, who we’ve built a friendly rivalry with over the last few years, should make for a great game.”

The Pointers have fielded a relatively young squad each week, with seven players being handed debuts in the top grade in goal keeper Bonnie Englefield, Abbie Lilley, Ngoc Nguyen, Eva Rich, Adelaide Larsen, Zara Jafari and Sophia Gowers.

Christmas said the breaks in fixturing had not been ideal but she was finding her feet in her first coaching role.

“I’m very much enjoying it,” she said.

“Every week we’ll look to put our best team forward, try to get the girls to enjoy the world game we love, because in my experience when everyone out there is enjoying themselves it has a real flow-on effect.

“With the stop-start nature of the fixture it’s made it a bit more difficult but I’m finding my feet.

“We have some really exciting junior representation across all the female grades plus a number of girls who are playing in South Australia and coming back to play on their weekend off, which is great for the development.”

Other regular S-League fixtures will continue in their usual Sunday timeslot.