The 2025 NPLW Semi Final 2 Preview
Bulleen Lions v Box Hill
Venue: Veneto Club
Date/Time: Saturday, September 6, 4:00pm
This Semi-Final is well worth the trip to the Veneto Club, with Bulleen in fine form and Box Hill arguably the in-form side of the competition.
Bulleen boast one of the most stacked squads in the league, with stars across the pitch, Isabel Dehakiz anchoring the defence, Paige Zois pulling the strings in midfield, and Danei Butrus a constant threat up front. On their home turf, they are notoriously hard to stop.
Box Hill, however, bring plenty of firepower of their own. Midfield duo Sofia Sakalis and Rhianna Pollicina are always ready to create and punish mistakes, while forwards Carina Rossi and Josie Aulicino have been scoring freely all season.
They may have given up home ground advantage, but Box Hill won’t fear the challenge. They pushed Bulleen all the way in a narrow 2-1 loss earlier this year at the Veneto Club and earned a 1-1 draw in their most recent meeting.
Both sides enter this clash brimming with confidence from Round 22 victories, Bulleen fresh off a 7-2 rout of Preston and Box Hill tuned up with an 8-0 demolition of Brunswick.
Head-to-Head Record
Played: 31
Bulleen Lions: 22
Box Hill: 3
Draws: 4
Last Time They Met
Friday June 13 2025, 7:30pm
Wembley Park, Box Hill
Bulleen 1 (Butrus 1)
Box Hill United 1 (Wilson 53)
Referee: Angelique Katsalas
Box Hill United: Natasha Stathopoulos, Josephine Aulicino, Olivia Ellis, Carina Rossi (Gabrielle Simpson 78), Katie Cox, Sofia Palywoda, Sienna Techera, Holly Murray, Nikolina Bucalo (Sara Petkaris 67), Elwen Parbery, Sofia Sakalis Coach: Kogulan Sabaratnam
Bulleen: Emily Shields, Mila Bulic, Paige Zois, Danella Butrus (Lia Privitelli 46), Sarah Cain, Maddison Rakic (Annabelle Yates 70), Ava Briedis (Nia Salleh 70), Grace Cagnina, Tiffany Eliadis, Alana Cortellino (Lia Privitelli 46), Hollie Massey Coach: Caitlin Friend
Watch the Last Time They Met
The Key Matchup: Paige Zois v Sofia Sakalis
This match promises to be a cracker, with the midfield battle set to steal the spotlight as A-League talent and former Junior Matildas fill the pitch.
Bulleen host the clash with Paige Zois pulling the strings in midfield. The A-League star is coming off her best performance of the season in Round 22, where she not only found the net but dictated possession throughout. Add her set-piece threat, and she’s a constant danger.
She’ll be joined by former Gold Medal winner Tiffany Eliadis and the lively Ava Briedis, whose creativity has seen her score consistently across both the NPLW and A-League.
For Box Hill, Sofia Sakalis has been instrumental in their late-season surge back into finals football. Alongside her, Rhianna Pollicina adds another layer of quality, with the pair combining for six goals in the back end of the season.
Match commentators: Melissa Barbieri and Hanh Solo.
The 2025 NPLW Elimination Finals will be broadcast live and free on the NPL Victoria YouTube Channel.
NPLW Semi Finals
Saturday 6 September, 4:00pm: FC Bulleen Lions v Box Hill United @ Veneto Club
Saturday 6 September, 4:15pm: Heidelberg United v Essendon Royals @ Olympic Village