Goals from Kayla Polius and Krysan Eggs St Louis got Saint Lucia past Barbados 2-1 on September 14, as the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) women’s tournament got underway in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The preliminaries of the week-long tournament are being played at Victoria Park in Kingstown.
Led by Canaries midfielder Cassandra Shepherd, the Piton Girlz started a relatively experienced team. Goalkeeper Kenna Lionel opened the game behind a back four that included vice-captain Racquel John, Steffany Allain, Hayla Samuel, and Marissa Duncan. Shepherd was joined in midfield by Shamalyn Albert, Freegeane Joseph, and Under-15 captain Torie Fanus. Up front were St Louis and Clowie Williams.
In the first game for both senior squads since 2023, Saint Lucia got much the better of the early exchanges, but the game was all square at the interval. Polius was introduced in the second half, however, and the teenager wasted little time in turning the fixture on its head.
Sprinting down the left sideline with the ball at her feet, the Roseau and Anse La Raye teenager made her way past four defenders, found her balance in the box, and unleashed a rocket into the roof of the net in the 60th minute.
The lead only lasted about ten minutes, however. Weymouth Wales forward Rianna Cyrus took advantage of lax marking from Saint Lucia after a rebound from a free kick just outside the box.
A further ten minutes on, however, St Louis added the game-winner. Polius, the Under-14 star, started the move. But when St Louis collected the ball just inside her own half, there was still a lot to be done. The 22-year-old from Vieux Fort dribbled through the Lady Tridents’ defence and picked her spot from the centre of the box to make it 2-1.
On Tuesday, Saint Lucia will face the Commonwealth of Dominica from 5 p.m. at Victoria Park.
NICE ❤️