Box Hill United star Sofia Sakalis received the most votes from the NPLW commentators between rounds 12-15 to be crowned the June Player of the Month.
Box Hill rose up the table into finals contention in the month of June, defeating Calder United, Southern United, and Heidelberg United.
Sakalis said the season has been a “rollercoaster” since arriving at the club in the mid-season transfer period.
“I think anything is possible so we will just take it week by week,” she said.
“I am pretty confident in our team, we are building slowly, and I am really enjoying the brand of football we are playing.
"We managed to win four straight games and then we had a bit of a disappointing game against Boroondara.
“That match was also a defining moment because we were either going to let it slip or bounce back and I think our win against Heidelberg also showed everyone in the league we are still in the hunt.”
Sakalis returned to the Box Hill lineup during the mid-season transfer period, following her A-league season with Perth Glory.
Adelaide United midfielder Melinda Barbieri also arrived at the club at the same point and the duo have made an immediate impact, scoring a combined nine goals from seven matches.
“It’s been great to be back in the NPLW following the A-League season, I feel like I grew a lot as a player and learned a lot while being away in Perth and now I can apply and transfer what I learned from there into the NPLW,” she said.
“Having quality players around me like Mindy (Barbieri) is always a pleasure, I think a lot of our goals have been from each other so that’s great.
“The training quality also lifts when you have other players like that and other A-League players around.
“I have been working on being more clinical in the final third and transferring this goal-scoring form into the A-League.
“Box Hill has been amazing in supporting me to train at the level needed to maintain my form and it has been a great team environment.”
After suffering an ACL injury in 2019, Sakalis explained how playing consistent football over the past 12 months has allowed her to be back to her best.
“I think it is mainly just getting a lot of match minutes across last NPLW season into the A-League season and now the NPLW again,” she said.
"Physically, I am feeling great, and it is really starting to show. It is just the match minutes that are quite pivotal now and just progressing.
“It is all about getting that confidence and consistency I think is really key for me as well following a major injury for me like my ACL.”
Box Hill sits inside the top four and faces a massive challenge this week against Bulleen Lions at the Veneto Club.
“Our goal is to play finals and make the top four, but we are just taking it week by week and trying to get the wins and three points,” Sakalis said.