The XXV Central American & Caribbean Games produced another massive moment for Saint Lucia on Tuesday, as the national netball team, the Piton Sparks, earned their first-ever win at this multisport competition.
Netball is at the CAC Games for just the second time, and Saint Lucia is in the six-team competition for the first time. The national team needs to finish among the top three to come away with a medal, a tough task with regional powerhouses Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago present, as well as a tough Barbados team.
On Monday, the Sparks opened the round robin with a 52-25 reversal against Trinidad & Tobago, but they came back on Tuesday at the Ciudad Juan Bosch Sports Complex to defeat the Dominican Republic 49-22.
Saint Lucia led 9-6 after the opening quarter, but Saint Lucia’s defence picked up two interceptions in the period. In the second frame, though, Saint Lucia broke the game open. They outscored their opponents 11-5, improved to 85 per cent shooting accuracy, and led 20-11 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Saint Lucia poured in 13 goals and held the hosts to just five. The final period was Saint Lucia’s best, with 16 goals scored at an 89 per cent conversion rate, sealing the 49-22 victory.
Goal shooter Dasha Eugene got things going for the Sparks, scoring 23 goals at an 80 per cent clip. Neriah Charlery made her national debut on Monday, and one day later, the 15-year-old phenom came off the bench to drain 20 of her 23 shots on 87 per cent shooting accuracy. Veteran Roxanne Snyder added firepower off the bench, chipping in six goals on seven attempts.
Saint Lucia’s defensive unit helped lay the groundwork for total domination. Goal defence Lizzy Dorvius had four interceptions. Megan Nestor and Aaliyah Estephor recorded three and two interceptions, respectively. The defensive unit held the hosts to just 22 total goals on 35 attempts.
On Wednesday, the Sparks face Bermuda’s Longtails, who are yet to taste victory in this competition. The ladies from the North Atlantic are ranked higher than Saint Lucia, 21st compared to 31st in the latest World Netball rankings. A win would be a major boost for Saint Lucia, ahead of difficult assignments against Jamaica and Barbados.
