BVI's Daresha Martin tries to get past the USVI's defense during Saturday's game

USVI dominates BVI for 4-0 victory in CONCACAF match up
BY DEAN GREENAWAY

The U. S. Virgin Islands took the drivers seat in their Confederation of North and Central America and Caribbean Football Associations Women's U-19 Soccer match at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds on Saturday using a domineering 4-0 triumph over the BVI, with midfielder Krizia Gravina's hat trick guiding the victory.

Coach Petersen Azile said the game wasn't as bad as the score reflected. "For the girls that I havesome of them have never played beforeI am fairly pleased with the effort they went out there and gave me tonight, knowing that out of 16 girls, only five or six of them have been playing for the past two years," Azile explained. "All the rest are fairly new girls. To go out and compete against a much better team like the U.S. Virgin Islands and only give up four goals, I am satisfied with the effort they gave me tonight." USVI head coach Yohance Worede said he was pleased with his team's performance. "There were a few times when there was a lack of discipline in holding the position, but this is to be expected during the course of the game," Worede explained. "They showed a lot of effort, a lot of heart and they showed good unity which at the end of the game is what led us to victorythat togetherness."

The USVI controlled the BVI side of the field and time of possession in the first half. Julissa Copeman gave the USVI a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. Gravina scored her first goal six minutes later for a 2-0 halftime lead. "I think I played good because I haven't been training that much," Gravina said. "I saw a lot of space opened in the BVI's defense and I took advantage and that's how I scored." Gravina scored on a penalty in the 57th minute and had her final goal in the 85th when she placed a shot to the right of BVI goalie Elsa Meyers who blocked many USVI goal attempts. Captain Diane O'Neal said they were just kicking the ball and had no control. "We were jumbled up, not spacing out and working hard enough," O'Neal noted. "The defense and midfield couldn't get the ball up. The USVI had pressure in our half all the time. We needed to pass the ball more, get it in their half and give them pressure."

Azile says his team faces a tough task when they meet at St. Croix's Paul E. Joseph stadium on Jan. 24 in the return leg. "We now know what we are up against because after losing at home, we'll have to beat them 5-0 to advance to meet the Dominican Republic."

Worede said the BVI put on a good performance. "Given opportunities, I think they have possibilities to play much better football," Worde said. "I think they need to have a girls' league so they get to play on a regular basis. That is one of the advantages we've had. Our girls have been able to play on a regular basis."

Technical director William Ramirezon loan to the USVI Soccer Federation from the Dominican Republicsaid they are starting something good for the future. "There are a lot of novel players that still have to learn a lot to play at a high level we are expecting them to play in the future," Ramirez said. "I hope that my work is giving results in the development of the sport in the U.S. Virgin Islands."