Foundation and Springer Indoor Hockey Champs

 

Foundation had to work hard at first against a stubborn Harrison College but easily defeated them 3-1 in the end with two late goals at the indoor facilities at the Kensington Oval Bond. It was a perfect birthday present for Coach Seibert Straughn who was thrilled at his team’s performance. Peter Alleyne opened the scoring with a shot from the right side of the box on the stroke of halftime. The second half saw a few chances go by but not as close as the three bites at the cherry that College had with three minutes to go in the game. The Foundation defense stood tall and blocked each attempted shot. With about a minute left to play in the game Alleyne crossed the ball across the goal and Christopher Taitt was willing and waiting to slot the ball past the College goalie. Thirty seconds later, College would get on the score board courtesy of Samuel Walker. College seemed to think there was hope with just under a minute left but that hope was dashed with a goal from Simeon Morris which sealed the win and championship for Foundation.

 

The Springer Memorial came up against Combermere in the finals of the Senior Girls. The first half was tight defensively and though National player Ayanna Wilson of Springer had two consecutive chances off of corners, she was unable to convert. Combermere had their chances as well but it took a diving save by the Springer goalie to keep the game scoreless with two minutes left in the first half. The two teams came out of the scoreless first half, with all to play in the second period. Five minutes were gone in the second half when Combermere broke the scoring drought with a goal from another National player on the pitch, Jada Prescod. Springer were desperate for an equalizer and it would come from the stick of Wilson. Wilson pulled off an amazing equalizer, shooting while falling to the ground. She hit the ball all along the ground past the Combermere goal keeper as time expired and force extra time and sudden death. Unfortunately, extra time had barely started when again Wilson smacked the ball into the back of the goal – only 24 seconds into the extra period and Springer had defeated Combermere 2-1 to become the title holders.

 

Two more finals played on the day, the Under 13 Boys Final and the U 15 Boys Final. In the Combermere vs St. Leonard’s U 13 Final, it took an extra time sudden death goal by Damar Graham of St. Leonard’s to separate the two teams, giving St. Leonard’s the win and championship 1-0. Harrison College and St. George Secondary School played in the U 15 Final and after four minutes on the clock College scored by the stick of Amon Griffith. St. George equalised with 20 seconds left in the half with a shot by Xavier Ward that echoed in the woodwork in the back of the College goal bars. In the second half there would be no argument about which was the better team on the day as Griffith slotted home two more goals to complete the only hat-trick of the finals to give College the U15 title. (AS)