In a stunning display of offensive prowess and tactical discipline, Pleasantville Secondary School secured their place in the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) girls’ intercol national final with a resounding 5-0 victory over defending champions St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain (SJCPoS). The highly anticipated semifinal clash at Hasely Crawford Stadium on December 6 transformed into a showcase of Pleasantville’s championship pedigree as they exacted revenge for last year’s penalty shootout defeat in the national finale.
From the opening whistle, Pleasantville demonstrated their determination to control the narrative. National team standout Nikita Gosine, fresh from representing Trinidad and Tobago in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying action against Barbados just five days prior, immediately imposed her will on the match. The reigning SSFL Girls’ Player of the Year opened the scoring in just the second minute before doubling the advantage in the 13th minute with a clinical finish that left SJCPoS reeling.
Despite entering halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead, Pleasantville faced sustained pressure as SJCPoS mounted numerous offensive raids to begin the second half. Goalkeeper Akeila Marryshow emerged as a defensive stalwart, making crucial interventions including two spectacular saves against SJCPoS winger Emma Nieves who found herself in dangerous positions but failed to convert.
The match’s turning point arrived in the 65th minute when Kaeley Martin capitalized on precise right-wing play to slot home from point-blank range, extending Pleasantville’s lead to 3-0. SJCPoS’s frustration compounded when standout performer Kaitlyn Darwent struck the base of the post after skillfully evading multiple defenders on the edge of the penalty area.
Pleasantville sealed their emphatic victory with two additional second-half goals. Zara Chase, who previously recorded a hat-trick in the zonal finals, demonstrated composure beyond her years with a clinical 69th-minute finish past goalkeeper Alexia Dolland. Midfielder Natalia Gosine provided the exclamation point in the 77th minute, unleashing a spectacular curling effort from distance that dipped and swerved beyond Dolland’s reach.
The comprehensive victory sets up a national championship showdown against east zonal champions Five Rivers Secondary on December 10. Five Rivers earned their finals berth with a narrow 1-0 victory over Tobago champions Signal Hill Secondary, courtesy of an eighth-minute goal from national youth team player Hackeemar Goodridge in the simultaneous semifinal at the Hasely Crawford training field.