After a 1-0 Friday night victory, the U.S. Virgin Islands women’s soccer team’s attempt to extend its more than 5-year winning streak over their British Virgin Islands counterparts ended on Sunday evening during a 2-0 loss at A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.
The matchup between both rebuilding programs came ahead of the BVI Football Association opening its women’s league on Saturday that has attracted five teams.
After finally breaking the USVI’s staunch defense following a 0-0 scoreless first half, the BVI’s Jenna James connected 27 minutes into the second half, ending the territory’s lengthy scoring drought against the USVI. Within the next 10 minutes, the host BVI missed two attempts that barely went wide.
Then in the 70th minute, Virgin Gorda’s Lavern “Ebony” Fahie, who had orchestrated several earlier plays and defended well in the middle-scored on a penalty kick as players celebrated before keeping their opponents out the nets the rest of the way.
When the final whistle blew, jubilant reserves ran from the bench to celebrate with their on-field teammates.
“This is something very special for the girls because they realize this is the resurgence of BVI women’s football, and they really wanted this victory,” coach Vincent “Nabo” Samuel said. “I think the USVI team is technically sound, but they are a bit soft, so we decided to take the game to them and it paid off.”
After Friday’s 1-0 loss in which Zola Kaza scored the lone goal, Samuel said his team was looking for a victory and tactical changes were made as they were confident that their opponent was ‘not a special team.’ While the USVI has good players, he said the BVI had individuals that could match up with them.
“We came in with that momentum and that confidence,” Samuel noted.
USVI coach Izler Brown said the two games were an opportunity to work on some things, see the players they have, and see what they are about as they only had two days together before heading to Tortola.
“For me, this was a great result,” she said. “Unfortunately, for the second game, I was very disappointed with the refereeing. I don’t think in the nature of wanting a team to win, it augurs well for the development of the women’s game. I prefer they blew the game in the best ability and in spirit of sportsmanship, and may the best team win in that situation. But, it’s a lesson for us, and I’ve seen what I need to see to go forward.”
Brown said the USVI’s program has been down for a couple years and coming into the program, she sees there’s a nice base of players and she can build from there; maybe a senior team and get them prepared for qualifiers.
From the core, she can also develop an Under-15 and an Under-20 team.
“So for me, it has given me a lot of aspects to work with, which is necessary for the USVI program,” she said.
800 meter, javelin throw youth records fall at Carifta Games trials
The Sprint Tech Track Club’s Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner and Top Notch Track Club’s Tynelle Gumbs, snatched the 800-meter and javelin throw Youth National Records to highlight the Carifta Games Trials, which also served as the National Junior Championships, on Saturday as several athletes recorded personal bests.
There were five revisions to the All-Time Top 10 List – a total of 18 overall – since the season began Jan 14.
Warner, who already had the No. 2 all time 800-meter performance to her credit with her time of 2 minutes and 17.59 seconds from earlier in the season, chopped three seconds off that mark when the 14-year-old finished in 2:13.80 on a solo sojourn – a National Scholastic and National Youth Record. In the process, she overtook her Sprint Tech teammate, Niyala Smith, for No. 7 on the all-time list to a personal best of 2:18.78 – the No. 3 mark ever in the event. Smith sliced her Jan. 28 best from 2:22.39.
As Warner was performing her heroics, Gumbs was in the middle of hers. Her opening javelin throw of 29.65 meters propelled her into second all time. By her third throw, Gumbs had dislodged national record holder Tahira Lewis from the top spot with her toss of 32.55 meters.
On her next attempt, she made her coach, Eric “Shaq” Matthias – a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Discus Thrower – proud when she joined her twin sister and National Junior Shot Put record holder Trevia Gumbs on the Carifta Games delegation, by heaving the spear 34.02 meters to improve on her recent best of 28.37 meters from her last outing. She closed the day with her fourth consecutive throw of more than 100 feet with a 31.56-meter effort.
Her mark was a National Scholastic, National Youth, National Junior and National Record. For her and Warner’s efforts, they will collect Sol National Record Breakers awards during the fourth BVI Athletics Association Athlete Awards Recognition Gala on Dec. 28. An athlete establishing an indoor or outdoor national record that stands at season’s end qualifies for the award.
Before Fast Lane Track Club’s Shaquouy Stephens could close the program and become just the fourth school boy to break the 50-second barrier in the 400 meters with his 49.98-second personal best, the penultimate race of the day was another one that would see the 17th and 18th revision to all-time records since the season began on Jan. 14.
The Sprint Tech Track Club’s Tarika Moses moved from No. 9 all time to No. 6 when the 14-year-old led her teammates to the line in the 400 meters in 55.64 seconds, improving on her best of 57.04. Jonel Lacey made her 400-meter debut with the No. 7 mark ever, when the clock stopped at 56.08. Samantha John, the No. 3 all-time performer at 54.06 seconds – turned in 57.05 as she rounds back into shape. The race was the fastest on home soil by BVI athletes since Chantel Malone and Ashley Kelly ran 54.58 and 54.69 respectively in 2008.
