New Balance NPL WA Women's: Azzurri hold off battling Subi as Academy, Freo win big

Defending champions Perth Azzurri are the early pacesetters in the New Balance NPL WA Women’s competition after a 2-0 win over Subiaco at Dorrien Gardens.

Tom Glavovic’s side are three points clear at the top after two first-half goals guided them to victory.

Subi drop to fourth despite an encouraging second half which saw them hit the frame of the goal three times.

Both sides had opportunities in the first half. Azzurri's Jess Flannery curled over before Subi's Catherine Curwood-Wagner headed Sara Klott’s corner at Emme Ingrey. The Perth goalkeeper was deputising for Dayle Schroeder, who was added to Perth Glory’s A-League Women’s squad earlier in the week.

The opening goal went the hosts' way on the half-hour mark when Maja Archibald’s pass split the Subiaco defence and Epril Nossent charged forward from the back to finish beyond Briana O’Dell.

Five minutes later, the lead was doubled as Matilda Bohm’s clearance set Flannery clear of the visitors’ defence with Perth's top scorer from 2025 firing past the Subi keeper.

Flannery missed a chance to make it three early in the second half, while Subiaco had several chances to pull one back but couldn’t quite reduce the arrears.

Savannah Oolsthorn cushioned down for Ebony Ntumenopoulos, who hit the post, before Brooke Burdett’s cross was tipped on to the woodwork by Ingrey. Then Klott’s volley clipped the crossbar as Perth’s defence held out for a second clean sheet on the bounce.

Hyundai Football West Academy are in second place and remain unbeaten after easing to a 7-2 victory over Sorrento FC. They sit a point off the pace having played a game more.

Stephen Walmsley’s side struck three times in the opening 10 minutes to take control of the contest. 

Theodora Mouithys got proceedings under way with a fantastic finish into the bottom corner from just outside the box. Cate McAuliffe headed in Zoe Dumont’s corner to double the lead, and it was 3-0 when Piper Dowe was released behind the Gulls defence to slot home.

The home side made it four before the interval with Dowe again driving into the box before finishing expertly across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

Four became five on 58 minutes when McAuliffe picked off a pass out of the Sorrento defence and released Mouithys to run in and score past Amalia Caceres.

It proved to be a tough afternoon for Sorrento, but they at least pulled a couple of goals back late in the game.

A long free-kick ran all the way through to Tamzyn Aisbett, who became the Gulls' first scorer in NPL WA. Then the Academy failed to clear another ball into the box and substitute Hanna Marchlewicz suddenlly made it 5-2.

But Mouithys unselfishly found McAuliffe after an Academy breakaway to bring up half a dozen, with a late own goal completing the scoring.

Fremantle City sit third and stay unbeaten after defeating UWA Nedlands 5-0 at Hilton Park.

Leyna Wood put Freo one up after 31 minutes when bringing down Abbey Green’s pass and keeping her feet to finish.

The hosts were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Isabelle Dadswell pulled Lacey Heys’ jersey. Annabelle Leek dispatched the spot-kick.

Three points were all but assured when Janice Kiama clipped through for Green to run in and score, before Heys held off two defenders to add a fourth goal in the final eight minutes.

The win was capped by Georgie Ireland’s long-range chip, with the midfielder back in action having missed most of 2025 due to injury.

Balcatta’s Friday night fixture with Perth RedStar was postponed, with the repeat of last year’s Top Four Cup final set to be played in April.