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Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Dazzling individual winner sinks University
All dreams must come to an end. Otago University put up a valiant fightback in their first Kate Sheppard Cup quarterfinal, but eventually succumbed 2-1 to Cashmere Technical at English Park in Christchurch yesterday. After University equalised in the 60th minute, Cashmere replacement Petra Buyck pulled off a dazzling individual effort to seal the win. University, whose resources were already stretched thinly thanks to student holidays, showed a lot of heart. Cashmere created opportunities to score inside the opening quarter. Former Southern United player Jemma Wilson applied the gas bringing the ball down the right flank. She fired her cross square on the goal line for Katie Harris to bury home in the 15th minute. Harris nearly had a second in the 35th minute, but Hayley Julian made a clutch save to the long attempt. Former Dunedin player Lara Wall was dangerous and had Cashmere's best chance before the break. Wall — who was a standout in her debut season for the Wellington Phoenix this season — fired in a long shot that narrowly missed and clipped the back of the net. University defended well. They stunted Cashmere's attack flow through the middle and made a great save from a late corner. Still, Cashmere held a 1-0 lead at halftime. University pressed high and attacked Cashmere's backline early in the second half. Cashmere made a mistake trying to exit and Caitlin Toohey slid it through for Nixon. Nixon pounced, taking it into the box and sliding it through at the near post to score in the 60th minute. University defended four quick corners — but then the home side won a penalty in the box. Julian was up to the task with a big save on Buyck's shot and was bombarded with applause from her team. But when Buyck had the chance again, she made no mistake. She took the ball across the top of the box and put it on the left boot to bring it home. Phoenix Reserves booked their spot in the semifinals with a 4-1 win over Waterside Karori. Auckland United beat West Coast Rangers 2-1, and Eastern Suburbs thumped Franklin United 8-0. Kate Sheppard Cup The scores Cashmere Technical 2 Katie Harris 15', Petra Buyck 80' Otago University 1 Georgia Nixon 60' Halftime: Cashmere 1-0.
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Free kick bent in to end Royals' charge
THEY dared to dream — and dream they did. University proved what can happen when you have a little bit of belief in yourself after making the quarterfinals of the Kate Sheppard Cup for the first...
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
One dream attained by University, another beckons
THEY dared to dream — and dream they did. University proved what can happen when you have a little bit of belief in yourself after making the quarterfinals of the Kate Sheppard Cup for the first time. After a memorable 1-0 victory over the Dunedin City Royals last month, University make the trip to Christchurch to meet Cashmere Technical at English Park on Sunday afternoon. "It's an absolute dream, to be honest," coach Hamish Philip said about making the quarterfinals. "All the hard work that we've been putting in this season and all the foundation work we put in prior coming to fruition, it's immense." Philip was proud to see the way his side had come together. "For us, it's actually the belief in what we're trying to do. "I know that's such a cheesy thing to say, but it's that trust the system of what each player brings ... it's shown on the field, to be honest." Cashmere Technical, who won the South Island league last season, are always tough — but University beat them 2-1 in the league in March. "We've beaten them earlier in the season so I said to them, 'why not again?'." Making the playoffs has not come without its challenges. Only half of the team remained in Dunedin earlier this week due to students heading home for the university break and several American players returning home after the semester. The club had been running a Givealittle page to raise funds to help them get to Christchurch. Some players will be getting some "big opportunities" this weekend, but Philip said they would never back down from the challenge. "We're thankful some of our players are from Christchurch, so we've got those. "Some players are actually flying back for the game because they understand the importance of it, so they've made themselves available and that's thanks to the community helping out. "As a core group, I believe the team is still there. "I will make zero excuses. We are prepared for it. We are a university club and it's a matter of how we deal with it." In the other quarterfinals, Waterside Karori play Phoenix Reserves, Auckland United face West Coast Rangers and Franklin United are home to Eastern Suburbs. In round four of the Chatham Cup tomorrow, Wanaka are home to Christchurch United, and the Royals host Nelson Suburbs.
Otago Daily Times
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
University claims historic win
Otago University are finally the ones with the royal smiles on their faces. University qualified for the Kate Sheppard Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a memorable 1-0 win over the Dunedin City Royals at the Logan Park turf yesterday. The Royals, or Dunedin Technical, had won the equivalent third-round fixture for four straight years. In fact, it had been close to a decade since the Royals or Technical had suffered a loss to a fellow southern women's team in a league or cup game. "It's the most incredibly proud moment as a coach and a member of this club," University coach Hamish Philip said. "To see the work paying off, and the perseverance of my team, is just mind-blowing." Self-belief played a major part in their ability to hold off the powerful Royals, he said. "Throughout the week, we just talked about believing in ourselves, and being able to win the 50-50s. "It was just a case of, hey, we're here for a reason." Philip highlighted an immense performance yesterday from central midfielder and vice-captain Jemma McCormick. She was an "absolute stand-out" in the centre of the park. Striker Sofia Zane also put in a fine shift in her first start for the club's top team. American forward Grace Raymond scored the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute. It came from University's only corner in the first half. "We'd been practising them endlessly," Philip said. "We got people in the top of the box, and Grace found herself in the right spot, chested it, and lobbed it past the keeper." It was impeccable timing from Raymond as it was her first goal for the club in her last appearance before heading home. University will now play Cashmere Technical in the Kate Sheppard Cup quarterfinals. That clash will likely be in Christchurch, and during university holidays, making it a doubly tricky prospect for the Otago club. "We dare to dream," Philip said. "Anything is possible. No matter what happens, we've made the top eight." Cashmere star Kate Loye scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 win over Nelson on Saturday. Emily Lyon scored three in West Coast Rangers' 10-2 win over Lakes, Rene Wasi scored three in Auckland United's 8-0 thumping of Tauranga Moana, Eastern Suburbs beat Western Springs 2-0, Franklin United beat Ellerslie 1-0, Waterside Karori beat Miramar Rangers 3-1, and Phoenix Reserves beat Wellington United 1-0. — University stayed top of the ODT Women's Premiership with a 4-0 win over Northern on Saturday. Caitlin Scherp gave the students the lead in the 27th minute. Naomi Jutel and Brooke Verevis scored quick-fire goals near the start of the second half, and Kate Johnstone wrapped up victory with a strike five minutes before the final whistle. University have a four-point advantage over Green Island with a game in hand. Green Island were held to a 0-0 draw by Roslyn-Wakari on Saturday. The Dunedin City Royals, second with GI on 15 points with a game in hand, beat Queens Park 5-1. Katerina Kiousis scored the only goal for the Royals in a tight first half. Ingrid Swanson and Georgia Kennedy extended the Royals' lead before Rocio Cea pulled one back for the Southlanders. Kennedy added a second goal and Charlotte Roche iced the win in the 86th minute.
Otago Daily Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Royals blow away competition
Round two of the Kate Sheppard Cup and Chatham Cup saw local teams meet each other. Both Dunedin City Royals' games were scheduled for Tahuna Park, but were moved to Logan Park due to the strong winds blowing the goals away. The Royals women did not let it disrupt them going 4-0 up at halftime against Roslyn Wakari thanks to braces to both Kylie Jones and Raegan Potter. After Roslyn's Morgan MacCormick pulled one back with 25 minutes to go, Jones claimed her hat-trick in the 77th minute to record a 5-1 win. Otago University were also too strong for Northern in the other Kate Sheppard Cup game, winning 5-0. Playing into a very strong wind, they took a 19th-minute lead through Aynsley Martin. Northern looked to defend deep to frustrate the students, but after the break, and with the wind at their backs, University doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Martin got her second. It was 4-0 on 72 minutes when Leila Hausia-Haugen scored two screamers within four minutes that gave keeper Katie Williamson no chance. Georgia Nixon calmly slotted the fifth in the 86th minute. In the men's Chatham Cup, Northern travelled to Invercargill and beat Queens Park 5-1, Rory Hibbert scoring four goals. His first came after 12 minutes on the edge of the box — he turned his marker and made no mistake. His second three minutes later from his own half, played a one-two, cut inside his man and keeper Mitchell Fowler could not stop it. Northern made all the early running and Nicholas Brett scored from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 after only 18 minutes. Queens Park pulled one back after 22 minutes when a diagonal ball cut out Northern's defence for Calem Castle to run on and slot home. In torrential rain and howling winds Hibbert scored his hat-trick on the hour mark when Northern regained possession, catching Queens Park upfield and Hibbert was afforded a couple of metres' space in the box. The final goal came four minutes from time when again Northern regained possession and a quick recycle saw Hibbert score from inside the box. There was another hat-trick in the Green Island v Wānaka match at Sunnyvale, Wānaka's Alex Plimmer getting all three in the Central Otago side's 3-0 win. It was 2-0 after 22 minutes and his third on 73 minutes allowed coach Ben Sippola to make a triple substitution including Plimmer himself. University also scored two early goals at the Turf against Timaru's Northern Hearts thanks to Ashton Hudson's 11th minute opener and Skipper Flynn Crocker's 20th minute goal. They finished with a 2-1 victory. It looked like they would blow Hearts away similar to their 9-1 win in the league earlier in the month. Hearts regrouped, grew into the game and, as it approached the final moments, Bailey Chambers pulled one back in the 90th minute. But the students held on to progress to the third round where they will be joined by the Royals, who were too strong for Mosgiel winning 5-1. The Royals got off to a great start after only six minutes with Jack Julian's surging run leaving defenders in his wake. He picked his spot and gave keeper Callum Roberson no chance. Playing into a strong wind, Mosgiel were constantly pegged back with the Royals dominating. A few minutes before halftime it looked like the Plainsmen would only be one down at the break, but the Royals had other ideas scoring three goals in the last seven minutes of the half. Centre back Ben Campbell's strong run down the right-hand wing, and subsequent cross, allowed Brady Jacobs to score from close range on 38 minutes. Then Campbell himself headed home from a corner on 44 minutes and Hugh Jack rifled home right on halftime to give the Royals a 4-0 lead. Jacobs made it 5-0 on 52 minutes. Mosgiel's Harvey Stephens rifled in a consolation goal in the third minute of injury time. — Neville Watson
