The hometown team is on the cusp of making history, with a win on Sunday securing their first-ever league title. The current leaders of the league are just four games away from completing an unprecedented unbeaten season, a feat that has never been achieved in the league’s 11-year history.
“We’re aware that we have a big target on our back,” said defender Kylie Strom. “Everyone’s going to bring their A-game against us, so we need to keep raising our level.”
The team will face off against second-place opponents at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday, with the league commissioner in attendance, ready to award the newly redesigned title should the hometown team emerge victorious.
The visiting team has surged into second place in recent weeks, thanks in part to the arrival of a new head coach. However, they still trail the leaders by seven points, with the hometown team yet to lose in 22 games.
“They’re showing why they’re the best team right now,” said the visiting team’s coach. “They can adapt quickly to what the game demands, both in and out of possession.”
The hometown team’s forward, Barbra Banda, has been a standout performer this season, scoring 13 goals in 18 games. The team’s defense has also been impressive, with 12 shutouts and only 13 goals conceded in 22 games.
Coach Seb Hines is downplaying the significance of Sunday’s match, saying it’s just another game for his team. However, he acknowledges that it will provide valuable experience for the playoffs, which take place in November.
“I think it’s a good test,” he said. “It’s a good experience going into playoff football. We might not get our experience leading up into the postseason, so we’ll use it for that experience leading up into the postseason.”
A win on Sunday would cap off an incredible turnaround for the hometown team, which has endured its fair share of struggles in recent years. Defender Kylie Strom, who joined the team in 2021, is proud of what the team has achieved.
“I think that’s what makes this season even more special, is to kind of know what this club and this organization has been through,” she said. “It wasn’t always easy, but I think we’ve got the right people in the right places, and we have something really special here.”
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