The final phase of the season is in full swing. After a 0-1 victory over sc Heerenveen, PSV Women will visit HERA United on Sunday. After ninety minutes, Sisca Folkertsma can stand with the bowl in her hands, but she is not concerned with that at this stage.
At home, PSV had little trouble with HERA United and recorded a handsome 4-0 victory earlier this season. Sisca was important in this match, scoring the 3-0 from a corner kick. She herself is little concerned with scoring and remembers little of her hit. "I have to say that I had already forgotten that I had scored a goal. What did stick with me was that we had won the game. I know we scored a lot and it would be nice if we could do that again on Sunday."
Familiar ground
Last weekend, Sisca was briefly back on familiar ground, where she made her breakthrough in 2012. Even though it is now like a long time back, the away game against sc Heerenveen remains extra special for her. "It does feel like coming home. It's always nice to play against your old club. A lot has changed, but the venue has remained the same."
Against the Frisians, Roeland ten Berge 's team did not have it easy and for a long time it seemed to be heading for a bloodless draw. Still, Sisca kept hope and was confident that another goal would fall. "During the match I didn't doubt for a moment that we wouldn't score another goal. In the first half we should have already made it easier on ourselves by finishing our chances. Then you know that in the second half you will have a harder time. In the end, it's great how we won the match and the girls who filled in were very important for us."
Title race
Because Feyenoord, Ajax and FC Twente all lost points, PSV is firmly in the saddle. If everything falls right, the women's side can claim the first title in club history next Sunday. However, Sisca keeps the focus on her own team and is not too concerned with results on other fields. "Every game you win now is very valuable. We have no control over what happens on other fields, so we are not much concerned with that. Anyway, it's not annoying for us that they are dropping points."
Sisca is aware of this, but does not experience additional pressure because of it. "We as a team are not more concerned about it than usual. The important thing for us is to go for the three points. We don't look too far ahead and focus on the next game."
New role
The midfielder by origin is mainly to be found at the back this season. It took some switching for her, but by now she is completely used to her new role. "In the beginning it took some getting used to, but I think it's important that I do what the team needs. Now you have to give more balls right away, whereas as a midfielder you often distribute the game. By now I have found my niche and I know what is expected of me. It's going well and I'm enjoying this new role."
HERA United - PSV begins Sunday at 4:45 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN.