Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-20 women’s football team claimed their inaugural victory in the DecembHER Football – Jewels of the Caribbean tournament with a decisive 2-0 triumph over TT Women’s League Football (WoLF) United XI on December 18 at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
The week-long competition showcases both Under-17 and Under-20 divisions, featuring national teams from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and US-based club Indy Premier SC across both age categories. Additional participants include the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Future Stars XI in the Under-17 bracket and the WoLF XI in the Under-20 group.
Following challenging opening matches that saw TT’s Under-17 squad suffer consecutive defeats against Indy Premier (4-0) and Jamaica (2-1), and the Under-20 team fall 2-0 to Indy Premier on December 16, the national program finally celebrated success two days later.
Flanking sensation Sonia Lamarre emerged as the match’s definitive hero, netting both goals in a performance that demonstrated exceptional technical quality. The dynamic winger broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion during the 24th minute, cutting inward from the right flank before unleashing a perfectly curved left-footed strike from approximately 25 yards that found the upper corner.
Despite numerous additional opportunities, including a narrowly missed long-range free kick from Madison Campbell just before halftime, the score remained 1-0 deep into the second half. TT coach Damian Briggs’s strategic substitution of attacking midfielder Orielle Martin nearly produced a second goal in the 76th minute, but WoLF goalkeeper Akilah George made a crucial save.
The WoLF XI nearly equalized during a frantic goalmouth scramble in the 86th minute that saw the ball strike the crossbar, with attackers J’Eleisha Alexander and Onika Denoon unable to provide the finishing touch. Lamarre ultimately secured the victory in stoppage time, heading home from close range after defender Kaitlyn Darwent delivered an accurate corner from the right side.
The result positions Trinidad and Tobago (three points) just one point behind group leaders Jamaica and Indy Premier (both four points), who played to a 2-2 draw in the day’s earlier match. The tournament continues with critical matches at Sangre Grande Recreation Ground on December 20, culminating in championship finals at Hasely Crawford Stadium on December 21.