Western United defender Sasha Grove will make a piece of Ninja A-League Women history in Sunday afternoon’s Round 3 fixture against Melbourne Victory.
At 19 years and 323 days old, Grove is set to become the fifth youngest player to reach 50 appearances in the competition, surpassing Matildas icon Caitlin Foord into the top five.
READ MORE: Western United stars Lincoln and Logarzo earn Matildas calls
In her first season at Western United after arriving from Canberra United in the off-season, Grove has been a standout across the opening two rounds and will be hoping to cap her milestone moment with a big three points in Sunday’s derby.
Alongside Grove, Kat Smith has promoted Alana Cortellino into the extended squad as the 17-year-old continues to work towards her professional debut.
With a host of attacking options throughout the squad, Cortellino and Kiara De Domizio will both be hoping to find their way into the matchday squad for the first time this season.
Avaani Prakash will also be looking to return to the matchday list, with Chloe Logarzo set to miss out due to personal reasons.
Keiwa Hieda has started each of United’s first two games and will be hoping to repeat her Home of the Matildas heroics from last season where she scored a goal and won a penalty in the 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory.
Sara Eggesvik made her Western United debut off the bench last time out and will be hoping for a maiden start, as will Sandra Ibarguen after two substitute appearances thus far.
Full Western United Ninja A-League Women Extended Squad
Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Emily ROACH, 5. Aimee MEDWIN, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 8. Sasha GROVE, 9. Sara EGGESVIK, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Sandra IBARGUEN, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Alana CORTELLINO, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 28. Isabel DEHAKIZ, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN, 36. Chloe LINCOLN (gk)
Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 19. Alana CORTELLINO (promoted)
Outs: 6. Chloe LOGARZO (personal reasons)
Unavailable: 15. Adriana TARANTO (injured)
