The Southern United goalkeeper was gutsy in her fight to keep her side in the National League clash against Western Springs yesterday.
She threw her body at everything, swatting away countless shots at goal from their Auckland opponents.
But once Western Springs got their eye in, they were away — and snatched a 7-0 victory at the Logan Park turf.
It was a tough result for Southern, who were without several senior players and blooded some youth across the park.
Southern stood strong for the opening quarter, keeping Western Springs at bay.
Maddison Ollington’s shot was swatted away by Paterson, but it fell for Britney Cunningham-Lee to run on and finish.
It was a similar story three minutes later. Paterson leapt high to dispatch Ollington’s shot, but Cunningham-Lee was on hand to finish yet again.
Ollington added one of her own in added time for Western Springs to hold a 3-0 lead at the break.
Southern spent much of the second half defending their own goal.
Experienced Western Springs replacement Liz Savage buried a lovely individual effort in the 58th minute and Ollington added another one minute later.
Cunningham-Lee shrugged off her defender and played it across the box to Bel Van Noorden, who finished the tidy team effort.
But the visitors were not done yet.
Anna McPhie scored a screamer from deep in added time to seal the victory.
Southern had a couple of opportunities late in the game, but staunch Western Springs defence kept them out.
The victory means Western Springs finish fourth, while Southern wrap up the season in fifth.
Wellington United handed Auckland United their first National League loss since 2023 with their 1-0 victory over the defending champions.
But Eastern Suburbs’ 3-0 victory over Petone gave Eastern enough points to bank their place in the final against Auckland United this weekend.
West Coast Rangers and Phoenix Reserves settled for a 2-2 draw, and Canterbury United Pride thumped Central 9-0 to wrap up their seasons.
National League
The scores
Western Springs 7
Britney Cunningham-Lee 31’, 34’, Maddison Ollington 47’, 59’, Liz Savage 58’, Bel Van Noorden 88’, Anna McPhie 93’
Southern United 0
Halftime: Western Springs 3-0.
