University of Wollongong-1, Shellharbour City FC-1 Pens: 3-0 to University @Lakelands Oval
University held their ground as they took the game to penalties, where they converted all three while City missed all three to win the final.
Wollongong had defeated Shellharbour in the semi-final phase, meaning Shellharbour weren’t going to be strong favourites as they usually are in prior engagements.
This grand final game was the perfect stage to define who was the superior side in the Women’s Premier League One.
In the first six minutes, Samara Wehmeyer was all over Wollongong as she kept them on their toes with pace and control of the ball.
She flew past her fullback with ease and then took on Rhianna Brown at centre back.
The midfield maestro shot a low, driven shot to the bottom right bin, but the keeper parried it out.
Ten minutes later, University finally had their chance to make a statement against a dominant City side.
Sophie Boyd won the ball high up the pitch from a loose touch by the defender; she passed Jessica Llewellin inwards. The striker then sent Boyd again for a chance in front of goal.
A defender slide-tackled the ball, but it bounced off another defender and ricocheted at goal, which forced a save from the Shellharbour keeper.
University’s efforts were not enough as Shellharbour scored the first of the final in the 22nd minute.
Wehmeyer got a wide through ball away from her fullback. From a tight angle in the box, she curled it with her left foot into the top right corner; the keeper couldn’t reach it in time.
A crucial final goal to relieve the nerves for City.
1-0 to Shellharbour, courtesy of Wehmeyer’s strong early performance.
The game went to half-time.
Shellharbour were being cheered already like champions, but Wollongong kept their heads up as they went back on the pitch.
Wollongong’s urgency finally paid off while Shellharbour had to pay the dividends.
Lilliana Clark floated a free kick into City’s box; it had an awkward bounce to it, which the keeper made a mess of as it rebounded back out to Zahalia Middleton.
The forward made no mistake and fired it past the keeper and defenders guarding the net.
The final was alive and back on for University.
1-1 in the 56th minute.
University had a golden opportunity to kill the game in the 72nd minute, as Jenna Munro backheeled a pass through the legs of the defender, where Middleton got onto it.
The goal steered her in the face, but her shot was saved by a fingertip as it went out of play.
The game had to be taken to extra time as no team could get it past the keepers, who were having standout performances in the final.
Not much action was seen in extra time.
Shellharbour got used to Wollongong’s tactics as they had a low line in defence to prevent any through balls, leaving only City to produce the majority of the chances.
Shellharbour had a chance like no other where they could have ended the match in style with a free kick in front of the box.
In the 114th minute, Kristy Rohrer bent the ball around the wall made by University.
The ball almost curled into the top right corner, making it a guaranteed goal, but the post denied it and saved University from late drama.
Late drama, which they may not have resolved in time.
The game was decided by penalties after the extra time final whistle was blown.
University, who were underdogs in this match, survived both regular and extra time and now had the opportunity to steal the game from Shellharbour in the penalty shootout.
Ariana Fleming stepped up first for Wollongong; without much of a run-up, she finessed the ball into the bottom right corner; the keeper almost got a hand to it.
Surprisingly, the keeper for Shellharbour stood up next; Christina Werakso, her penalty unfortunately was sent too high as it soared over the bar.
Shocked, as University began the shootout, a goal in front.
Clark was next; she calmly slotted it in the right bottom bin.
2-0 for University in the shootout.
Wehmeyer was next in line; without hesitation, she fired her effort; however, to the complete shock of the crowd, it was missed.
Like her teammate before her, it flew high over the crossbar.
For the next University penalty, it was their skipper, Brown.
She smashed it low and hard to the right side again; the keeper sent it the other way.
All pressure was on for Kristina Janeska as she needed to convert her penalty to keep her side alive in the shootout.
Emma Carstens was in goal, on her toes, ready for any shot that came her way.
Janeska unleashed a shot with ferocity as it sailed to the bottom left corner, but it missed by a whisker as it went out.
Absolute madness and surprise as University are victorious, scoring all three penalties while Shellahrbour subverted expectations, missing all of theirs.
University celebrated by running to the crowd to enjoy the moment with the fans.
They beat all odds as they remained in second place for the majority of the season.
However, they finally got their moment with a grand final win against their first-place rivals.
University of Wollongong claim the Women’s Premier League One Grand Final 2026
By Thomas Panayiotou
