Former European-based striker Ahkeela “Lady Latapy” Mollon scored a beaver trick, two in each half, to lead T&T Women Soca Warriors past St Lucia, 8-1 in their second-leg Group Two Caribbean Football Union Women’s Olympic Qualifier at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Sunday.
With the victory, the Women Soca Warriors, who squandered no fewer than eight clear cut chances as well, completed a 14-1 aggregate win to set up a semifinal round clash with Jamaica on Wednesday at the same venue.
In Friday’s first-leg match at the same venue, the Women Soca Warriors crushed the St Lucians 6-0 led by a beaver-trick from Tasha St Louis. Going into Sunday’s match, T&T coach Anthony Creece, in charge of the team due to the unavailability of US-born Randy Waldrum, said he wanted his players to dominate from the start.
And that they did with Mollon, who had stints in Iceland and Sweden opening the scoring in the 12th before adding further items in the 32nd, 79th and 84th minutes for the host who led 4-0 at the break.
USA-based midfielder Lauryn Hutchinson chipped in with a quick first-half brace for the Women Soca Warriors in the 23rd and 25th, but like Mollon, she along with Naomie Guerra were guilty of missing numerous clear cut chances.
St Lucian captain, Ellaisa Marquis got a goal back for her team in the 56th while Guerra (63rd) and substitute Sharain Cummings (87th) also got second-half tallies for T&T to compete the scoring.
In Friday’s first-leg match at the same venue, the Women Soca Warriors crushed the St Lucians 6-0 led by a beaver-trick from Tasha St Louis while Mollon added a pair.
The qualifying tournament was reduced to T&T and St Lucia after Antigua & Barbuda and Cayman Islands, the two others teams who were expected to compete withdrew from the group series. Speaking after Sunday’s win, Creece said he was happy with another win by the team and more satisfied that the players avoided picking up any major injuries.
He added, “In the first-half we were in total control and while we scored four goals, we wasted a number of chances as well, which we will need to improve on. The second-half we did not play to our best, but credit to St Lucia as well as they kept on fighting until the final whistle.”
Looking ahead to the match with Jamaica, Creece said he was eagerly anticipating the arrival of a few more overseas players to join the team. “The Forbes sisters, Karyn and Kimika as well as Khadidra Debesette and Dernelle Mascall were expected in camp between last night and this morning, while Ayanna Russell may also be available according to Creece.
Asked to comment on key duo, Maylee Attin-Johnson and Kennya Cordner who have made themselves unavailable, Creece refused to be drawn into the issues only saying that all he can do is focus on what happens on the field, with the players available.
“I have to let the administrators do their job and focus on my own and I must say that the women who are in camp have been very dedicated to the cause, “ ended Creece.
Tomorrow’s clash between T&T and Jamaica will kick off at 7.30 pm, two hours after Puerto and Guyana meet in the first semifinal.
The third place playoff and final are set for the same venue on Friday at the end of which the top three teams will advance to the eight-team Concacaf final round event from February 10-21 in Houston, USA next year.
From the Concacaf Championship, the top two will qualify to the 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, August 3-20.