Hot beginning for Kick Start in Women’s League

The 2018 edition of the Barbados Football Association’s Women’s League has set itself up to be a rather interesting one as the competition got off the ground with a major upset. With two games signalling the start of the premier women’s tournament at the Wildey Turf on Saturday night, Kick Start Genesis romped to a 3-2 win after coming from two goals down to stun defending champions, University of the West Indies.

As expected, UWI got off to a hot start as the side boasts several of the names in the national senior women’s set-up, such as Shonna Evelyn, Rianna Cyrus, Soraya Toppin-Herbert and Caitlin Padmore. Roxanne Bradshaw put UWI ahead as early as the sixth minute, while Shanelle Als gave her team a two-goal cushion in the 14th.
The fight back for Genesis began in the 21st minute. Having procured some talent during the transfer window such as Shanice Stevenson from the National Sports Council and Asha Stevenson from Ellerton, Genesis have given themselves a solid platform to go after their first title in the league.

Shanice Stevenson made the game all about her as she pulled the first goal back when she comfortably converted a penalty. She was back in goalkeeper Connie John’s face in the 27th minute and had the scores level with a lob from outside the box that dropped into the nets over John’s outstretched arms. In the 41st, Stevenson was at it again with her deadly right boot as she put away a free-kick that sailed over John in similar fashion from well outside the box.

The evening’s earlier game saw Mavericks getting three points when they came up against Empire Women. Coming away with a 4-1 win, the first goal of the season went to Shaunte Carrington in the 12th minute. She was followed by Felicia Jarvis in the 21st minute, but Empire was able to pull on back when Tianna Sealy converted penalty kick in the 25th.

Empire was put back out of striking range when Marissa King added a third for Mavericks in the 31st. Jarvis got her hands on the first brace of the season when she doubled up in the 54th to secure the 4-1 win for Mavericks in their opening game.

The Women’s League picks back up this coming Wednesday with a clash between Kick Start Genesis and the National Sports Council Women’s Football Team. Kick-off is set for 7 pm.