Heidelberg United is making big steps forward in NPLV women’s this season

Heidelberg United’s NPLV women are coming in after a few years in the wilderness.

Stephanie Galea has been in great touch for Heidelberg United this season. Picture: Stuart Milligan

After a couple of years in the lower reaches of the NPLV women’s ranks, Heidelberg United has made some lengthy strides forward this season.

Head coach Bill Mihaloudis returned to the role this season, after two years away from Olympic Village, and is building a squad that can compete with the competition’s leading powers.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster,” he said. “Because they are a new team it does take a while to mesh it all together. But I’m very, very pleased with how the girls are doing.”

United currently sits fourth on the ladder, six points adrift of last season’s champion FC Bulleen Lions with Calder United and Alamein FC occupying the top two rungs.

Mihaloudis said reaching the pointy end of the season remains the target.

“Our No. 1 goal is to play finals,” he said.

Hefty defeats at the hands of Calder and Alamein in recent weeks, and an upset at the hands of Box Hill United on Sunday, have been a stark reminder of the inconsistency that can plague a young group.

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Heidelberg United coach Bill Mihaloudis

On the plus side, the Bergers have reached the semi-finals of the statewide knockout cup competition and, on July 10, will tackle Calder for a place in the final and a shot at some silverware.

Mihaloudis said cohesion had been more common than inconsistency this season.

“We’ve seen that (the team gel) occur most of the season,” he said. “But we’ve seen that thing (inconsistency) raise its ugly head. But that’s 5 per cent not the 95 per cent. And sometimes as coaches we tend to focus on that.”

US imports Melissa Garcia and Sidney Allen have helped bolster the Heidelberg attack this year and, with Steph Galea and Brydie Siryj also having a good seasons, scoring goals has not been a problem.

Garcia has netted 22 goals in 16 league outings while Allen has 11 from 16, Galea nine from 15 and Siryj four from 15.

“It’s nice to see the forwards functioning so well,” Mihaloudis said.

Garcia and Allen have had a huge impact at Olympic Village with Mihaloudis noting that the experience they have brought with them from the US college system as well as their discipline and work ethic was rubbing off on the local girls.

Moreover, rather than being fly-in-fly-out-again types, the pair has expressed a strong desire to remain part of Australian football and have already been working with the club’s junior teams.

“These girls don’t want to go back,” Mihaloudis said. “They have said they want to get to the next stage here and that’s the W-League.”