WESTERN United are determined to make sure their brilliant inaugural A-League Women season isn’t a flash in the pan after falling short in their first grand final.<\/p>\n
The fledgling Victorian side lost to Sydney FC 4-0 in Sunday’s decider at CommBank Stadium, two weeks after beating them 1-0 in the semi-final.<\/p>\n
United coach Mark Torcaso expressed pride in his side’s first year, and with 13 players already signed for next season was confident they could back it up.<\/p>\n
“Their spirits are quite high, and they said, ‘We will be back and we will be back even better’,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They’ve got enough belief in each other to come back next year and have a really good year.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to be the team that comes out in the following season after having a good year and not not performing. That’s my expectation and my players also feel that way as well.<\/p>\n
“We’ll make sure we’ll put the right belief in them to come out in the right way next year.”<\/p>\n
Torcaso previously coached plenty of his charges at NPLW club Calder United and was delighted by how they had exceeded expectations, with several players in their first ALW campaign.<\/p>\n
“They’ve been amazing, and it’s quite emotional for me because I’ve got an attachment to a lot of these girls for many, many years. Ever since some of them were 14,” he said.<\/p>\n
Torcaso hoped American forward Jess McDonald, who was a guest player early in the campaign and attended the grand final to support United, could return or be replaced by a similarly experienced performer next season.<\/p>\n
American goalkeeper Hillary Beall, on loan from NWSL club Racing Louisville, said the loss would motivate United.<\/p>\n
“When you lose these moments, it’s a big learning lesson and you have to get it at some point,” she said.<\/p>\n
“To get it in your first season, it’s not what you want, but you see this environment and you come back and you want more.<\/p>\n
“Personally, now I want to come back here and win the thing just to prove myself and prove that this club is something to be reckoned with.”<\/p>\n