Strong start for Bermuda girls
Two of the Bermuda teams scored victories as the inaugural BBFS International Girls Football Festival in partnership with PartnerRe and the Argus Group kicked off under windy and cool conditions yesterday at the National Sports Centre.The festival opened with much enthusiasm as 80 overseas visitors and proud Bermudian parents, applauded their teams during the opening ceremony. BBFS Under-14s and BFS Guelph proudly carried the FIFA FAIR PLAY Flag and acknowledged the corporate support of PartnerRe and the Argus Group of Companies.BBFS U-14s 3 BFS Guelph & Fergus 1BBFS and Guelph battled throughout the opening match of the BBFS International Girls Festival and BBFS going with the wind took advantage of the early conditions to go up 2-0 at the half through goals by Symira Lowe and Nia Christopher.The second half saw BFS Guelph take control of the match as they forced BBFS to defend for the majority of the half. BFS Guelph earned a penalty after a foul in the box by Cally Blankendal and came back into the match 2-1.Symira Lowe capped a fine MVP performance, to make it 3-1. BBFS were awarded a penalty but Leilanni Nesbit's kick from the penalty mark, was saved by the outstanding BFS Guelph goalkeeper.BFA U-17/20s 2 Monte Verde Academy 1The BFA U-17/20s clinched victory over a very balanced 80 minutes. In the opening 20 minutes both teams were cautious with much play in the middle of the pitch. The U-17's went ahead 1-0 through Eva Frazionni but Fusion, having only 13 players, fought back bravely to keep the deficit to 1-0 at the half.The second half saw the U-17s go up 2-0 through the outstanding Aaliyah Nolan. Nolan was a constant threat to the back four of Fusion who persevered and pulled back the score to 2-1 through a Marcela Damas goal which came from some fantastic build up play. Fusion almost managed to equalise but Micah Pond made a great save to keep Bermuda in the lead as the game ended 2-1.BFA Senior Women 1 FC Virginia 2The BFA Senior Women's team got off to a great start through an early goal by Tschana Wade but FC Virginia came back to equalise and they began to take control of the midfield.FC Virginia scored against the break to go 2-1 and held on for the win.Today’s matches at the National Sports Centre will see FC Virginia face FC Fusion at 9am, followed by BFA U-15s against BFS Guelph at 9.45 and BFA trial players in an inter-squad game at 11am.