The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IT was a sweep of both divisions for the CR Walker Knights as they proved to be the dominant senior soccer programme in the Government Schools Secondary Sports Association.

Both the Knights’ senior boys and girls took championship titles in their respective championship finales at the Roscow Davies Soccer Field yesterday.

The senior boys won on a penalty-kick shootout 3-1 over the CV Bethel Stingrays, due in large part to stellar play from goalkeeper Jackson Modestin.

Modestin, who blocked three attempts in the shootout, said it was all about reading the eyes and body language of the Stingrays.

“The best thing I did was stay focused in goal,” he said. “I tried to time where the ball was going and I was able to read right.”

Several missed opportunities from both sides and timely saves from CV Bethel saw the teams play to a 0-0 draw in regulation. The Knights nearly scored on the opening possession of extra time but a strike clanged off the goalpost.

After he drew a foul in the box, Wiskendy Francois had an opportunity to close out the game on a penalty shot, but missed wide left just moments before the game was decided via shootout.

Knights head coach McKellon Lewis said the final game was an example of the determination his team exhibited all season, particularly from his leader in goal.

“This has been a hard fought victory. Like I told them we had to leave it all on the field. I have to say kudos to CV Bethel, they pushed us all the way. It took penalties and you can never be prepared for that because you never know which way it will go, but my guys played hard and they deserve it. I told them these things are all a part of the game. Sometimes you miss penalties, sometimes you don’t take your chances but you still have to go out and play the game and keep fighting,” he said. He [Modestin] was fantastic. We work on that on him reading the eyes. He came up huge for us today. All throughout the season he held it down for us so it was a fitting way to end.”

In the girls’ feature, the Knights scored a 1-0 win over the CC Sweeting Cobras to claim the title after championship losses in two previous seasons.

Danielle Johnson scored the go-ahead goal late in the first half and the Cobras had a possible equaliser wiped away due to an offsides call.

The Knights controlled possession for much of the game and better in the second half, while their offence was more productive.

Knights head coach Tia Rolle said the defensive effort was the difference in the outcome in a win that was particularly special for her senior players who have been a part of the team for the past three seasons.

Both teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming inaugural National High School Soccer Championships, featuring the top senior boys’ and girls’ teams from New Providence and Grand Bahama, April 25-30.

The girls’ and boys’ championship teams from both the GSSSA, the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools and the Grand Bahama Schools Sports Association will secure their berths in the tournament. A knockout game will be played only between the runners-up from the GSSSA and the BAISS to determine the other boys and girls teams who will complete the package.

The championships will be a single elimination format with the teams winning advancing until the champion is decided. The games are expected to begin around 4pm during the week so that they can accommodate more support in the stands rather than during the school hours.

The opening round will be contested 4pm Monday for the girls and 5:30pm for the boys with the semi-final on Thursday, starting at 4pm and the final on Saturday at 2pm for the girls and 3:45pm for the boys. There will also be a third-place game played in both divisions and that will be staged on Saturday at 10am for the girls and 11:20am for the boys.

Modestin said both Knights teams would celebrate the win now, but are looking to close out the year as National Champions.

“It feels awesome to be a champion, but it also gives us a lot of confidence moving forward,” he said, “We just have to go out there and be even better than we were today because we know what the ultimate goal is, to win nationals.”