Defender Ellie Brush returned to hometown club Canberra United on loan for the Westfield W-League season, which kicked off on Sunday.
Brush and Canberra are aiming to defend last year’s title won last December, something that hasn’t been done in the seven prior seasons of the Westfield W-League.
“I am really looking forward to the challenge of trying to go back to back this year as obviously it hasn’t been done before so we are aiming for as high as we can go,” Brush told the Canberra United website.
Canberra kicked off their campaign on Sunday against Brisbane Roar, but were unable to get off to the start they would have liked. Brisbane jumped out to a lead in just the 8th minute as Tameka Butt dribbled through the center of Canberra’s defense and chipped a short shot over a pair of sliding defenders and goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
Matters went from bad to worse just moments later, as a Williams gaffe put United down two in the 11th minute. A Brisbane free kick was looped towards goal with a nonchalant backheel by Ruth Blackburn and Williams looked to have everything under control. However, the ball slipped through her hands as she tried to make the catch and landed over the goal line.
United cut the lead down in the 39th minute as Michelle Heyman, on loan from the Western New York Flash, received a pass from Seattle’s Kendall Fletcher and rounded the Brisbane keeper for a simple finish. Williams came up with key saves throughout the rest of the match to keep Canberra in it, but the visitors were unable to level the score.
Brush, who played the full 90 minutes, made her club-leading 82nd appearance for Canberra.
