In a thrilling conclusion to the Saint Lucia Football Association Inter-District Under-15 Girls Championship, Anse La Raye staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Dennery 2-1 in the final held January 17 at the SLFA Technical Centre in Grande Riviere, Dennery.
The championship match unfolded as a near replica of the teams’ preliminary encounter, with Anse La Raye once again overcoming an early deficit to secure victory. Dennery’s electric midfielder Faye Alphonse (#10) opened the scoring with a spectacular looping free kick that found the top corner of the net during the first half.
Despite Dennery’s dominant possession in the opening thirty minutes, the momentum shifted decisively after halftime. Anse La Raye’s relentless pressure through standout players Destiny Herman and Akala Sam resulted in multiple corner opportunities. The persistent offensive push paid dividends in the 39th minute when Lacey Popo capitalized on a poorly cleared goal kick, delivering a clinical finish from 15 yards out.
The match-winning goal arrived six minutes later when Valencia Lysan Seraphine unleashed a spectacular 20-yard strike into the far corner, marking the first goal from open play and securing Anse La Raye’s advantage. Alphonse nearly equalized in the 60th minute but narrowly missed what would become the penultimate scoring opportunity of the match.
Anse La Raye head coach Jovette Wilson attributed the victory to her team’s resilience and execution. “We had to speak to them, tell them what to do,” Wilson explained to St. Lucia Times. “They were not attacking. They were not taking the opportunities. We asked them to stay focused because they know what to do.”
Wilson praised the seven-team tournament that began in November, emphasizing its significance for women’s football development. Her championship squad included players from Anse La Raye Primary, Ciceron Secondary, and Castries Comprehensive Secondary schools.
“I love it because I never got the opportunity to play under 15,” Wilson reflected. “At a young age, I had to play seniors. We never got that. And I love the fact that now there is football for females from all ages. Every district on island should have a female team so we can develop more and have more females engaged in football.”
In the third-place match, Desruisseaux secured the consolation trophy with a 2-1 victory over Soufriere. Janii Prevost of Choiseul Secondary School scored her tournament-leading 12th goal despite her team’s loss.
The ceremony recognized individual excellence with Karimah Ferguson (Canaries) receiving Most Promising Player honors, Shariella Arthur (Anse La Raye) earning Best Goalkeeper distinction, and Janii Prevost (Soufriere) claiming the Leading Goal Scorer award.