2026 Women’s National League – Week 3
Otago University vs Waterside Karori
Two targets for Otago University as they walked onto the Logan Park turf for their third National League fixture. First target was to score a goal. Hadn’t done that in either previous game, albeit against the very demanding defences of Auckland United and Fencibles United. Second target was to get a point. Didn’t have one of those either, having been losing as teams usually do when they’re not scoring any goals. Lots of changes for Otago Uni with Maeve Pope, Isla Ganley, Ruby Burgess, and Morgan MacCormick all elevated to the eleven along with a few positional changes around them as Varsity keep searching for the right National League formula.
Contrastingly, the only change that Waterside Karori made after a win last week was in goal, where Emma Andrew returned to the starting team. And it was Andrew who was at the heart of a contentious moment very early on when she rushed out of her area and clattered Georgia Kennedy, only getting a yellow thanks to the retreating defender behind her. Suffice to say the Otago crew were convinced that punishment wasn’t harsh enough since Kennedy was seeking to get around Andrew for a shot at goal. That whole drama was part of an encouraging start by Otago Uni, with MacCormick also getting a couple shots away. But it all came to naught when Sophie Burchfield ran onto a through ball and converted to put the Wharfies ahead. Really good finish. Looked liked Amelia Abbott with the sweet assist there although it was pretty hard to tell from the footage.
Then Waterside Karori scored again when Natalie Orellana emphatically smacked one into the net in the middle of a corner kick scramble. Burchfield kept it alive and Orellana crunched it home. The Americans were at it again... and for Otago University this was a familiar pain. Against AUFC they conceded on 14’ and 19’. Against Fencies it was 18’ and 21’. Now against Karori it was 16’ and 22’. All those breakthroughs happened with similar times on the clock and all followed by a second concession roughly five minutes later. You just can’t be compounding things like that.
Granted, the other thing this performance had in common with those others was that the double-banger was tailed by a very long spell before Otago Uni conceded again. Granted, the damage had been done and the Wharies didn’t have to rush anything. It was a toasty day on the turf and they were in control. A lesser keeper than Lauren Paterson may have allowed a third before the break but yeah nah not much going on so here’s a screenshot of Emma Andrew petting a dog that ran onto the field as the players were walking back to the sheds for half-time...
Closest we’ve come to an animal pitch invasion this season but it’s early days yet so plenty of time for the tradition to continue.
Even throughout the wilderness minutes, the American trio of Burchfield, Orellana, and Skylar Cornell always looked intent on adding to the scoreline. They didn’t... but Margot Ramsay did, scoring twice off the bench. With twenty to go, she converted on the rebound after Jessica Woodside’s pullback almost went in for an own goal, Paterson adding to her save count but unable to prevent the seconds. Ramsay’s second arrived right near the end and again came via a second-phase opportunity. Corner kick that Paterson got a soft punch upon. Ramsay’s first shot was cleared off the line but her second was not to be denied.
And therein likes another issue for Otago Uni. Along with those flurries of goals conceded in first halves, this was the fifth goal in three games that they’ve allowed after 85 minutes on the clock. Tired legs in the quicker tempo of the National League? Probably... but you won’t win games doing that. No goal for the students after their third consecutive defeat-to-nil. There have been good, stoical spells in all three matches though, so it’s certainly not doom and gloom. Lauren Paterson’s goalkeeping exploits are as good as ever. The backline did as well as could be expected against the speedy Americans. And definitely jot down the name of Ruby Burgess, who was very busy in an advanced midfield role – Burgess captained NZ U15s earlier this year and is on loan from Dunedin City Royals so we should continue to see her at this level (and in the NZ age grades) next year and beyond.
The game might have unfolded differently had Andrew been shown a red at the beginning... not convinced the result would have been different though. Waterside Karori were very assured across all lines and probably should have created more than they did, yet what they did was more than enough. Orellana, Cornell, and especially Burchfield were great and they got really sharp bursts off the bench from the likes of Ramsay and Woodside too. Amelia Abbott is always class in that holding midfield role. Plus the Wharfies have only conceded twice in three games despite already playing 2/4 Auckland clubs.
Otago University 0-4 Waterside Karori
Goals (Assists)
16’ | 0-1 | WK | Burchfield (Abbott)
22’ | 0-2 | WK | Orellana (Burchfield)
72’ | 0-3 | WK | Ramsay
88’ | 0-4 | WK | Ramsay
Fencibles United vs Wellington United
It would be a surprise if the WNL final is anything other than Auckland United vs Eastern Suburbs. Those are the two strongest teams and they’ve been carrying on a fantastic rivalry, with back and forth results, throughout this calendar year... and they’ll be resuming that rivalry next week, actually. But if there’s a team other than those two who makes it to the decider then these are the two top candidates. Two clean sheet wins for Fencies to begin their campaign. Very narrow defeat to AUFC for the Diamonds in their first game last round. That all made this a very important game of association football.
Zoe Doughty’s injury last week kept her out so Fencibles called up Jordan Samping for goalkeeping duties – somehow they happened to have a second North American GK ready to go... Samping hails from Ontario, Canada. They also made one other change with Millee Loxton getting a start in attacking midfield in place of Natalie Young. Loxton is one of the many homegrown prodigies in this squad – a NYL championship winner with Fencies last year who was part of the 2024 U17 World Cup squad. Wellington United were entirely identical to the side that kept Auckland United scoreless for in excess of ninety minutes (before Aniela Jensen got them in added time). First home game for Fencies after a couple road trips.
As anticipated, these were two well-matched teams, both looking to get runners going forward. Defenders had to be on-guard... with Lara Smith (WU) and Mackenzie Rastatter (F) each delivering some fine coverage. Something that really stood out from the Diamonds, though, was the way that they rotated their attacking players, including wingbacks Farina Anchico and Georgie Furnell (two players with natural attacking instincts) regularly swapping sides. Ela Jerez and Madeleine O’Farrell can each drift wide or infield. And it probably all stems from having a skilled and versatile striker like Hannah Pilley (who spent last year’s WNL playing as an attacking midfielder). That adaptability to the moment gave the Diamonds an unpredictability in the attacking third which perhaps Fencibles couldn’t match.
That was how Wellington United got the opening goal. It arrived from Anchico doing a kick and chase up the left wing. and Ela Jerez supplying a delicious first touch on the turn to set up a smooth finish with her second. If you’ve been wondering what Jerez has been up to since leaving the Wellington Phoenix, there’s a good example of it. Still only 18 years old, by the way. But tactical flexibility or not, Fencibles drew level right before the break when Miller took a quick throw to Missen who summoned some contact from Lara Smith and the ref pointed to the spot. Not a lot in it and Wellington Utd were incensed at the decision. But Hayley Miller, whose quick thinking had sparked the move, stepped up and buried it anyway. Exact same minute as she scored in week one, randomly.
Sampling had to be sharp to defy Pilley from close range to keep it at 1-1 when the whistle for half-time sounded. Unfortunately for Fencibles, the second spell started with Ela Jerez getting lots of touches and one of those touches was a beautiful diagonal lob for Farina Anchico who put it over the goalie on the bounce and Wellington United were back ahead. Reverse of the goal-scorer and assister from the first goal – shout out to the South American connection with the Colombian heritage of Anchico and the Chilean heritage of Jerez.
Question now was whether Fencies had another one in them. Miller kept making good runs and they were quick to bring Natalie Young into the action off the bench. Marla MacInnes headed a corner kick off the line to protect that WU lead. But those instances were rare, with the Diamonds doing a fine job of preventing Fencibles from turning good build-up ball into anything much of substance in the other half. Sarah Alder and Marla MacInnes both got booked for hard fouls near halfway just to reinforce the point. Wellington Utd should have sealed the deal with quarter of an hour to go when sub Pepi Olliver-Bell got to the byline and dished up Farina Anchico only for her side-footed finish to miss the target. POB also put one wide with the keeper advancing in the dying moments... though by then they were within sight of the finish line. The Diamonds may have conceded five minutes deep into stoppage time last week but they got some redemption this time, holding firm for a 2-1 victory on the road to reinforce their challenger credentials.
After a couple of superb Mihiro Kisu performances, Wellington United were wonderful in shutting her down here. Wasn’t easy for them to forge clear chances – they certainly don’t have the strikeforce of last year’s Maggie Jenkins/Natalie Olson/Summer Laskey trio – but they still scored two good goals and defensively they’re as good as ever. Rose Morton and Marla MacInnes are already forging a partnership after two games. Lara Smith was awesome here (penalty aside). Tough one for Fencies who didn’t quite have it in the tank against a more experienced opponent but we must respect the fact that Fencibles have given ten starts to teenagers through three games (six different players: Micaela Besley, Lane Ririnui, Sienna Makwana, Grace Eng, Natalie Young, Millee Loxton) while also operating with a largely youthful bench. Cilla Fa’afua only turned 20 a couple months ago too. And there’d probably be more but for the U17 World Cup that’s about to start.
Fencibles United 1-2 Wellington United
22’ | 0-1 | WU | Jerez (Anchico)
42’ | 1-1 | FU | Miller [p] (Missen)
48’ | 1-2 | WU | Anchico (Jerez)
Auckland United vs Canterbury United
On paper, this did not look like much of a challenge for Auckland United. But the selections did make it interesting as AUFC opted for rotation while CU reintegrated a couple of their Cashmere Tech players in the frontline, with Ruby Luxton and Anya Stephan brought onto the wings in the only two alterations from the Pride’s 3-1 loss to the WeeNix prior to the bye. Auckland Utd lost Talisha Green to injury last week though by the looks of this team they probably would have rested her anyway with only four players holding their starting places and a different formation utilised. Halle Johnson (CB), Charley March (CB), Natalie Olson (LW), and Charlotte Roche (CF) were the ones retained.
Blair Currie made a debut at goalkeeper against her hometown team (it was mentioned by Shane Verma on commentary that she’d been training with CU prior to getting the call from Auckland); Jess Philpot jumped into a back three; Shev Edwards and Nat Olson made for two very attacking wing-backs; Sasha Adamson and Laura Bennett (starting debut for the latter) were in midfield; and Olivia Ingham was joined by Stella Lawson in attacking midfield, the latter rewarded for a bright spell off the bench in the late win against Wellington United a week ago. Auckland United have also announced a new signing with American forward Jennessa James Groves, aka JJ Groves, getting amongst the party – no doubt with some FIFA Champions Cup action in mind. Groves most recently played for Vitoria in Portugal and has previously played some Champions League qualifiers with Vllaznia of Albania, making her a seriously well pedigreed addition to this group (just in case they didn’t have enough about them already).
If you didn’t get the picture from the changes listed above, this was an intensely attack-minded eleven from Auckland United. The wing-backs were just wingers. The midfielders are both better known as forwards. Even the back three kept pushing upwards as the Pride sat deep and compact, we’re talking rest defence like ten metres into the oppo half. That gave them lots of numbers although not a lot of room to work... and one thing about a Pride front three of Maclani Michael, Anya Stephan, and Ruby Luxton is that there was plenty of pace going back the other way. Stephan made that known immediately by getting in ahead of keeper Currie for a ball in behind within five minutes. AUFC scrambled well to prevent a shot but they’d have to stay alert to those ones because their own approach did leave them vulnerable to the only realistic avenue that the Pride had to hurt them.
With all that said, it took a long time for AUFC to finally unpick the Pride. Without a few of their usual conductors, they struggled to move the ball smoothly against a committed defensive effort from the Cantabs and were regularly shuffled down blind alleys. But not forever. A slick one-two between Roche and Bennett led to the latter striking the post, then Bennett probably should have been awarded a penalty after getting her heels clipped by Anika Lomax. Eventually it was the guile of Laura Bennett (a veteran of the 2024 U17 World Cup, 2025 U17 World Cup, and 2026 U20 World Cup) that finally put them ahead when she repeated that give-and-go move with Lawson before ghosting her defender and scoring from a tricky angle with the keeper unsighted. Might’ve been a bobble or deflection that took the ball over the foot of Amelia Simmers. Regardless, it’s a first National League goal for one of Aotearoa’s best prospects.
Auckland scored again basically as soon as the second half got going. Olson took use of the referee’s advantage after Ingham had been knocked over, swinging in a challenging cross which Simmers punched into her own defender and then Stella Lawson claimed the goal before it cross the line. Goals right before and right after the break and everything had changed. Only a matter of time until AUFC added another, with Simmers making two or three fine saves in that spell before Halle Johnson nodded in from a Bennett corner kick. The American had already threatened from a couple similar situations – too tall, too strong, too good to keep her quiet. JJ Groves made her debut straight afterwards... as did Danica Urlich-Beech, formerly of Hibiscus Coast who has spent the last couple years honing her stuff in Australia.
One of them would score on debut although not before AUFC were finally punished for their high defensive line approach when Anya Stephan intercepted a pass near halfway and sent and early ball through for Ruby Luxton to dash through and score. They had a nice five minute passage straight afterwards where the Pride looked like they believed they could grab another one... before Chloe Bellamy got to the byline to set up JJ Groves. A defensive foot prevented her from getting an immediate shot away but that didn’t matter because the clearance hit Groves in the shin and rebounded just inside the post. Odd way to score. And that wrapped it up.
Got a little out of hand there for the Pride after a wonderful first forty minutes where had the defending champs looking a bit stale, though the Luxton goal at least kept the scoreline within reason. Big shifts from the likes of Chelsea Empson and Anika Lomax while Luxton and Stephan gave them an outlet they lacked in week one. Auckland United have won 3/3 with eight different goalscorers already. Didn’t even need Aniela Jensen for this one. Laura Bennett was their main spark and Stella Lawson also put forward a strong case for further starts. Not quite a routine performance from a rotated AUFC but a routine result for sure.
In other news, it’s been confirmed that Auckland United’s FIFA Champions Cup game against Naegohyang (North Korea) will take place on 25 October in Hangzhou in China. Champions of Oceania against the champions of Asia, with Naegohyang having beaten Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan) 1-0 in the final back in May. Melbourne City lost 3-1 to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the semis. Last year, Auckland United faced Wuhan Jiangda (China) in the inaugural Champions Cup and put in a very commendable effort to only lose 1-0. It’s likely we see them continue to manage the minutes of their key players over the next couple weeks leading up to that. It also means that AU’s game against West Coast Rangers has been rescheduled for some Thursday nighty action in early November. That’s immediately before AUFC’s bye week so no worries for them but a bit rough on WCR who’ll now face Fencibles on 1 Nov, Auckland United on 5 Nov, and Otago Uni (away) on 8 Nov. Three games in a week.
Auckland United 4-1 Canterbury United
42’ | 1-0 | AU | Bennett (Lawson)
47’ | 2-0 | AU | Lawson
57’ | 3-0 | AU | Johnson (Bennett)
69’ | 3-1 | CU | Luxton (Stephan)
75’ | 4-1 | AU | Groves
Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs West Coast Rangers
After a pair of defeats and with a bye week upcoming, it was absolutely essential that West Coast Rangers returned from their trip to the capital with three points. To that end, they swapped both fullbacks out with Nicole Stratford returning on the right and Lorna Selby available for her first appearance of the term (and her 100th for West Coast Rangers) on the left side. Olivia Curgenven was also recalled on the wing while Jo Peel was fit to wear the gloves after going off injured in week one. For the Wellington Phoenix, two changes: Isla Cleall-Harding and Lily Brazendale revamping the frontline. Hadn’t seen Brazendale to this point because she’d been busy with the first team in preseason. Speaking of which, Brooke Neary got another start in goal just days before her scholarship deal with the ALW squad was made public. No 14-year-olds in the starters this week.
Didn’t take long before a predictable dynamic emerged with West Coast Rangers camped in the Nix half trying to find ways to unpick the home team’s defensive lock. Lots of good pressing against the WeeNix early phase possession (Marissa Porteous was all over that stuff). Lots of corner kicks for Emily Lyon to deliver. The best open play chance came from a Lyon flick-header for Sienna Higinbotham who half-volleyed over the top. But Brooke Neary and her backline weren’t budging. They survived an almighty goalmouth scramble thanks to Neary bravely dropping on the ball and earning a free kick with boots flying everywhere in the six yard box and all the while the WeeNix had Lily Brazendale as a willing runner with her lightning pace so every now and then they were able to stretch things going forward... albeit with nothing that drew a save out of Jo Peel (beyond sweeping off her line a couple times). Half-time arrived and it was still goalless.
The Nix lost that outlet at the break because Lily Brazendale was only cleared for 45 minutes after having featured off the bench for the A-League team the day before (in a friendly vs Eastern Suburbs which the Phoenix won 2-1). As did Sienna Candy, who scored in that game. Both Brazendale and Candy were involved on club media day so there’s a pretty good chance they’ll both be announced with contracts soon. Possibly scholarships, otherwise youth player deals (Braze had one of those last year too). This comes after Brooke Neary, Alyssha Eglinton, and Mikaela Bangalan all had their scholarship deals confirmed during the week.
Ruby Barber subbed in for Brazendale so they went from a fringe A-League player to a current NZ U16s international. Runner for runner though, since Barber’s pretty rapid herself. Anyway, Emily Lyon put the ball in the net early in the second stanza, following up after a Sienna Higinbotham shot, only for the lino to put the flag up. More promise... yet still nothing that counted. Freya des Fountain was doing a superb job at closing down the hold-up presence of Emily Lyon (great battle between two U20 World Cup teammates), not letting her get those lay-offs and flick-ons away cleanly. They had to go straight over the top for their next chance, Stratford lobbing one from deep, but Lyon couldn’t keep her shot down.
This was a similar dynamic to the WeeNix Men vs Birkenhead one day earlier at the same venue, where the visiting Aucklanders gobbled up the midfield and kept most of the game in their attacking half but couldn’t find much joy against a stacked backline. There was one blunder when Neary passed straight to Higinbotham however she did enough in recovery to prevent Lyon from getting a shot away. Less than twenty minutes to go at that stage and still scoreless. It was getting pretty sketchy... until Emily Lyon tapped home at the back post from a Taylor Vujnovich cross, catching the Nix out from a free kick where they went wide and in while the defence was expecting the direct delivery. Fair reward for Lyon who toiled away throughout. And a great impact from substitute Vujnovich who’d score one of her own a couple mins later just to be sure of it, blasting home after Lyon had poked the ball in her direction.
There ya go. Rangers didn’t do it the easy way but they got the points they needed thanks to patience and persistence. Bit concerning to see Marissa Porteous limp off near the end after she absolutely bossed the midfield all arvo. Wonderful impact off the bench from 18yo Vujnovich. There is a worry that they might be one creative player short in that squad... though maybe they just needed the confidence boost of a win and a couple of goals and will be sweet from here on our. Lots to like about how the WeeNix battled away for most of this game, with Neary and Des Fountain predictably leading the way. Gotta wrestle back a bit more of the midfield if they’re going to get decent service to their speedy strikers but in fairness these last couple games against Eastern Suburbs and West Coast Rangers were brutal match-ups in those areas. Random fact: three weeks into the season and we’re yet to see a draw in the Women’s National League.
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 0-2 West Coast Rangers
80’ | 0-1 | WCR | Lyon (Vujnovich)
82’ | 0-2 | WCR | Vujnovich (Lyon)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Eastern Suburbs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Waterside Karori | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Fencibles United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Wellington United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| West Coast Rangers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| Canterbury United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 0 |
| Otago University | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | -12 | 0 |
| TOP SCORERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ella McCann | Eastern Suburbs | 3 |
| Aniela Jensen | Auckland United | 3 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Mihiro Kisu | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Hayley Miller | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Natalie Orellana | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| Sophie Burchfield | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| Margot Ramsay | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| MOST ASSISTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Young | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Sophie Burchfield | Waterside Karori | 2 |
Week 4 Fixtures
West Coast Rangers – BYE
Waterside Karori vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Canterbury United vs Fencibles United
Auckland United vs Eastern Suburbs
Wellington United vs Otago University
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