The Central Coast Mariners are beefing up their squad ahead of the coming A-League Women’s season, with three recent additions.
Shadeene Evans, Ash Irwin and Sophie Nenadovic have all been signed.
Forward Evans, 22, joins the club from current A-League Women’s champions Sydney FC, having spent the past 12 months with the side.
Prior to this, she spent time at Adelaide United, as well as another stint with the Sky Blues.
Born in Borroloola in the Northern Territory, Evans joined the Football NSW Institute and Westfield Sports High as a 14-year-old on the recommendation of former Mariners Head Coach Alen Stajcic.
She got her first taste of A-League Women’s football after signing with Sydney FC on a scholarship in 2018, before making her league debut against Western Sydney in January 2019.
She scored her first goal later that year against Melbourne Victory.
Evans spent a season in South Australia where she appeared for Adelaide United on seven occasions, before returning for another season with the Sky Blues.
Having played under Mariners Assistant Coach Jake Stephenson at Northern Tigers for a number of seasons, Evans has been a regular performer in the NSW NPL Women’s First Grade competition.
She has featured for both the Under-17s and Under-20s Australian Youth squads.
Nenadovic was born in Newcastle and spent seven seasons with the Jets in the A-League before joining the Mariners Academy.
Debuting as a 15-year-old in 2013 for Newcastle, she also featured for the Young Matildas, playing in the AFF Championships in Myanmar.
Nenadovic has previously spent time in the NPL with Manly United, winning two premierships
The 25-year-old has been a member of the Mariners Academy for a few seasons, helping the side to second place in the NSW League One Women’s competition this year.
She scored 13 goals during the 2023 season, including numerous long-range strikes.
Irwin, 23, receives her first A-League Women’s contract having been a staple in the NSW NPL Women’s First Grade competition for a number of years.
The defender spent much time playing in the Football NSW Institute, before linking up with Sydney University SFC.
There Irwin developed under the eye of Mariners Head Coach Emily Husband, spending a total of five seasons with the club.
She has since spent the past year with Sydney Olympic, before earning her first shot at the Liberty A-League Women’s competition.
Husband said all three players would be valuable additions to the squad.
“Shay has already had a few seasons’ experience in the A-League competition, so I am super excited to have her with the Mariners this campaign,” she said of Evans.
“She brings great energy and demands that her teammates are always putting everything they have into anything.
“She is still very young and has good ability off both feet.”
Husband said signing Irwin and Nenadovic was also pleasing.
“Ash is a brilliant competitor who defensively will win a lot of one-on-ones,” she said.
“She is very coachable and to be able to give her the opportunity to play in the A-League is exciting.
“After watching Sophie with the Mariners Academy this season, how she commands the park and her technical ability, she really stood out.
“It was a no-brainer to bring her up into the A-League squad.
“Sophie has been in the A-League before and has worked hard to get back again, and I know she will continue to put in the effort this season.”
Source:
Central Coast Mariners