Girls’ U-15 national team suffer loss at CONCACAF
Girls’ Under 15 National Team before the St Lucia match (standing, L-R) Hannah Scott, Nassaria Whittaker, Kiara Lemay, Chloe Bentick-Lalli, Molly Kehoe and Kasey Golding; (kneeling, L-R) Raeanne Ebanks-Hydes, Riley Doyle, Artemis Deslandes-Hydes, Katriona Williams and Kalie Ebanks
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Girls’ Under 15 National Football Team dropped their first points in international play Thursday, 9 August, losing 4-0 to St Lucia in Group E at the CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championships in Bradenton, Florida. With the loss, the team missed out on a semifinal berth.
The Caymanian youngsters got off to an extremely difficult start conceding goals in the second and 11th minutes, and a third in the 22nd minute, which triggered a number of changes just before the half-time whistle, said a Cayman Islands Football Association press release.
In the 31st minute, Alexia Bromfield, Shayana Windsor and Lilly Powery entered the field of play for Raeanne Ebanks-Hydes, Kalie Ebanks and Riley Doyle, respectively.
St Lucia added a fourth goal in the 35th minute from which the Cayman team would never recover.
Ethana Villalobos and Kayla Bradley were sent on in the 36th minute to replace Kasey Golding and Nassaria Whittaker, but with time running out, the deficit was too difficult to overcome, said the release. In the 65th minute, the Cayman Islands made their sixth and final sub as Shuwayne Fyne replaced Hannah Scott.
Assistant coach Shakeina Bush said after the match: “Our girls tried their best to play their normal game, but we could not find our fluency and we didn’t take advantage of the few chances we created. We played some good football in spurts but our transition from midfield to attack was not the best and St Lucia’s physical defence caused us a lot of problems.”
She added, “We have a lot of work to do but participating in this tournament was a great experience for our players and coaches and we are very, very proud of all the girls. Once we get home, we begin preparations for the CONCACAF Under 17 Girls World Cup qualifiers in 2019.”
The Cayman Islands face Group D runners-up Barbados today (10 August) in a consolation game and will return home on Sunday, 12 August.
Well done girls and coach Alex.
Our girls are CHAMPIONS to me…they have done very well for being so young, inexperienced thus far and from Cayman alone!! I’m very proud of them…way to go girls!!