By Mat Stramandinoli

Canberra Olympic 8 (Meg McLaughlin 4’, 7’, 22’, 53’, 80’, 90+2’, Grace Maher 23’, Sally Rojahn 40’ def. Woden-Weston 2 (Anna Vandenboucke 46’, Sarah Whitfield 68’)

Meg McLaughlin bagged a double hat trick and Canberra Olympic continued their race for a top four spot in exciting fashion, as they finished 8-2 winners over Woden-Weston at O’Connor on Sunday afternoon.

It took just four minutes for the in-form McLaughlin to make her presence known as she ran onto a ball in the box and dinked it past the keeper to give the hosts the lead early on.

Just three minutes later McLaughlin scored her second almost identical fashion and doubled the hosts advantage. 

But Woden-Weston looked to recover and hit-back on the counter, with Ella Brown looking promising down the flank.

It was McLaughlin who halted the momentum though with a 22^nd minute hat-trick goal as she weaved her way through the defense and blasted the ball into the back of the net.

And just a minute later Grace Maher added her name to the scorers list with a well-struck effort from way out to give Olympic a 4-0 lead early in the half.

They still had time for a fifth as the clock approached half-time, and Sally Rojahn got her foot to a low cross with five minutes remaining in the half to push the lead to an incredible five goals come half-time.

A seemingly re-energised Woden-Weston would come out in the second half, getting on the front foot from the first whistle.

It paid dividends for the visitors almost immediately as a handball in the box saw a penalty awarded, and Anna Vandenbroucke smashed it into the top corner to pull a goal back for her side. 

McLaughlin continued to wreak havoc on the Wanderers backline though and she netted again eight minutes into the half with a well placed shot from the edge of the area to push the lead back to five goals with her fourth.

The visitors hit back once more though 15 minutes later as an effort from Sarah Whitfield beat everyone and buried in the back of the net, but McLaughlin still had two more goals in her as time wound down.

She netted again in the 80^th with a low drive from the edge of the box and after latching onto a through ball in stoppage time rounded the on-rushing goalkeeper and fired home from out on the wing to round out the resounding scoreline.