The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A SERIES of close finishes highlighted day two of the National High School Soccer Championships, as the matchups are all square for tomorrow’s final.

 Hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Bahamas Football Association at the Roscow Davies Soccer Field, the Family Island schools entered competition as the champions in their respective leagues vied for a coveted final spot.

 The girls’ matchup will feature the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine against the visiting Lucayan International School Buccaneers while the boys’ final will be a BAISS championship rematch – the St Andrew’s Hurricanes against the QC Comets.

The Big Red Machine advanced with a 2-0 win over the CR Walker Knights. After  a scoreless first inning, Maya Bowe scored her second goal of the tournament to put the Big Red Machine ahead for good. Eden Cox added an insurance goal late in the game as her team advanced over the GSSSA champions.

SAC head coach Daria Adderley said her team improved on their performance in Monday’s semi-final, but there remains room to grow if they wish to become national champions.

“I’m satisfied with the improvement from Monday. It took us a while in this heat, but at halftime I spoke to them and said ‘we need to score some goals but we need to stick to the game plan, pass the ball and finish.’

“Maya came through with the clutch goal and Eden did a great job with a finish in the box. All I ask is that they play with effort and execute,” she said.

“We definitely have to play a lot better and we have to score goals, as a team I am very impressed. We have dominated the time of possession that’s what I like to see, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t finish and put goals up on the board.”

In the second girls’ semi-final, the visiting Lucaya International Buccaneers  out of Grand Bahama topped the Queen’s College Comets, 2-1.

Buccaneers head coach Nigel Kirkby said the team came into the tournament playing inspired after their top striker Shannon Albury suffered an injury.

“The whole plan was to come down here and play the same game we play in Grand Bahama. We stuck to our plan, we distributed the ball well and it paid off for us,” he said, “QC played a fantastic game, they were real tough opponents but our girls are playing inspired right now. Shannon broke her leg two days ago and is missing this tournament. So the girls thought of her to give them a little bit more extra push when they felt down.”

The Bucs got goals from Annabelle Purvis and Nina Sanchez.

 “I think we carry on doing what we’re doing. There are a few things we can tighten up on. We can create better offensive chances and we need to make sure we get the ball out of the danger area,” Kirkby said, “This pitch is new to us and the girls were getting used to how to play the ball so with even more adjustment we should get better in the final.”

The first boys semifinal featured the most thrilling game on yesterday’s schedule as the Hurricanes survived a valiant effort by the CR Walker Knights and emerged with a 2-1 win.

Oliver Parfitt-VanPallandt scored in the first minute of overtime as the Knights’ keeper Jackson Modestin mishandled the ball in net.

The Knights’ defence was the story of the first half but an incredible individual effort by Ethan Willie in the open field followed by a strike that found the back of the net gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead.

With less than three minutes left  to play, the Kinghts’ Marc Ville scored the equalizer to force extra time.

Hurricanes head coach Yiorgo Coyle said his team showed great resilience in staying focused despite surrendering the late goal.

“I find the longer the game goes on the guys get stronger and stronger, which is very admirable of them as young men. CR Walker posed a tough threat. To us this is the real championship, the champions in private schools against the champions in public schools and no matter what happens on Saturday, this was a game we felt we had to have.”

Confident moving forward, Coyle said when his team plays to its potential they expect to be claim the title.

The Comets defeated the Jack Hayward Wildcats 4-0 and enter the final as the tournaments highest scoring team with 10 goals.

“QC is always ready to take us on. We have beaten them twice already this year and it’s a battle,” Coyle said, “But once the boys come ready to play, we are the best team.”

The third place games will begin on Saturday at 10am and the championships will start at 2pm, just after the official opening ceremonies.

Tonight at 6pm, the four teams playing in the championship will be treated to a reception at the BFA’s beach soccer facilities at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge on East Bay Street.