Cayman lost Briana Hydes who was sent to the showers after receiving two yellow cards and Monique Roberts on injuries she received during a tackle in the eighteen yard box.

Cayman 0 - 7 Costa Rica | Cayman 0 - 13 USA
Game 3: vs Haiti - March 14, 7pm CAYMAN TIME
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The goal galore started in the 8th minute with a goal from Pamela Gorgona and Mario Fernanda Moreira in the 38th ending the first half 2-0 in favor of Costa Rica. In the second half the Costa Ricans came out under new instructions and attacked their opponents mercilessly. Despite their continuous attacks the Cayman ambassadors never gave up and with the tremendous efforts made by players in the defense line with the likes of Brittany Mobley, Tacita Berry, Chelsea Bush, Monique Roberts, captain Briana Hydes and the woman of the match Emily Kelly in goal they managed to keep the score down to only five in this interval.

 

The Cayman team was no match physically for the Costa Ricans who is known to be one of the strongest countries in CONCACAF. Under the circumstances they did their best and made history at that level.

 

According to Coach Bobby McLaren he feels very proud of these girls and confirmed that they did their best against these giants of CONCACAF.

 

“I am very proud of the Cayman team they did their best they performed credibly against Costa Rica. We are competing against the best team in CONCACAF. We are the youngest team and the smallest nation in this competition. This experience and exposure will serve us well in future tournaments as a major stepping stone in our development process. Going into the game tomorrow we will be doing our best. That is all we can ask of these players who are new comers to this level of football. God is good."

 

In the early game between defending champions United States and Haiti the Haitians lost 9-0. Today Thursday March 13 Panama plays Mexico at 5:00pm and Jamaica faces Canada at 7:30pm. Both games will be played at this same venue.

 

 

The two top teams and the best two third placed teams will advance to the semis on Thursday March 18 and the finals will be played on Saturday March 20.

 

The team are accompanied by Head of Delegation Martha Godet, Head Coach Bobby McLaren, Technical Director Thiago Cunha, Manager Gloria Gall, Equipment Manager Annette Monteith and Physiotherapist Al Bartice.

 

The girls qualified last December for this final and have been doing intensive training since early January under the directions of Women’s Technical Director Thiago Cunha, Head Coach Bobby McLaren and National Technical Director Carl Brown.

 

They will compete against defending champions United States, hosts Costa Rica and Haiti in Group B while Group A will field Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama. These eight teams will compete for the championship and a place in the World Cup finals to be held in August in Trinidad and Tobago.

Marissa McLaughlin’s 5th minute goal in the return leg of the playoff against the Dominican Republic was all the Cayman Islands national Under 17 team needed to take the final spot in the CONCACAF Under 17 Women’s Championship scheduled for March 9-20, 2010.

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The girls led by Captain Tacita Berry displayed an awesome and dramatic performance before thousands of spectators or what could be described as a sea of red at the TE McField Sports Centre (the Annex).

The Cayman Islands National Under 17 Girls after placing second behind Haiti in the CFU World Cup Qualifiers in Group A last month were qualified along with the Dominican Republic who was also placed second in their group for a play off to this final.

 

It was God’s will that the Cayman Islands travelled to Dominican Republic for the first leg and drew 2-2 after goal keeper Emily Kelly was taken out of the game due to an injury. She was replaced by Ashani Francis who did well in goal preventing the score to be different and not in favour of the Cayman Islands. In the return leg played in the Cayman Islands all they needed was this 1-1 draw to take them through to the finals making history as the first football team to ever reach this level internationally.

 

The Cayman Girls will join defending champions United States hosts Costa Rica and Haiti in Group B. Group B will field Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama. These eight teams will compete for the championship.  

 

The Girls after playing competitively in 2007 stayed together and trained with all their heart under the expert guidance of  Technical Director Thiago Cunha and Head Coach Bobby McLaren despite several challenges.

 

Their efforts started to show success last month when they defeated Bahamas 2-1, British Virgin Islands 13-0 and losing to host Haiti 1-0. They did not give up but regrouped and did what they do best play as a team with God’s blessing against the Dominican Republic at the Estadio Panamericano San Cristobal in Santa Domingo.

 

After their return with that score line they were confident that with the home crowd they would get the motivation needed to take it to the next level.