分类： sports

North Carolina State University’s men’s soccer team celebrated a remarkable achievement on Wednesday as three of its players received prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors. Among them, Saint Lucian striker Donavan Gusto Phillip stood out, earning a spot on the All-Conference Team and being crowned Offensive Player of the Year. The junior forward, hailing from Marchand, is poised to transition to professional football in 2026, having secured a contract with Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids. Additionally, Phillip aspires to represent the Saint Lucia national team, aiming to make his senior international debut. In his final collegiate season with the Wolfpack, Phillip dominated the conference with impressive statistics, leading in shots (62), shots per game (3.65), points (31), points per game (1.82), goals (15), and goals per game (0.88). His stellar performance cemented his claim to the Offensive Player award. NC State’s success extended beyond Phillip, with sophomore centre-back Nikola Markovic being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and senior goalkeeper Logan Erb earning ACC Goalkeeper of the Year. Erb led the conference in shutouts and shutouts per game, showcasing the team’s defensive prowess. Senior midfielder Taig Healy, who leads the ACC in assists, also secured a place on the All-ACC First Team. This collective achievement marks the first time since 1984 that NC State has placed four players on the All-ACC First Team, a historic milestone in the program’s history.

Kimani Melius, the former West Indies Under-19 captain, has made a notable return to the regional cricket scene, securing a spot in the Windward Islands squad for the upcoming CG United Super50 tournament. This marks his first appearance in List A cricket after a two-year hiatus. The 24-year-old top-order batter from Boguis, Saint Lucia, is one of four Saint Lucians selected for the five-match series, which kicks off on November 19 in Trinidad & Tobago. The Windward Islands Cricket Board has announced a 14-member squad for the tournament, aiming to add to their four previous 50-over titles since the competition’s inception in 1972. Melius joins allrounder Shadrack Descarte and young fast bowlers Keon Gaston and McKenny Clarke in the squad, alongside wicketkeeper Noelle Leo and fast bowler Dillan John, who have been training with the team since early October. Melius, who debuted for West Indies B in 2018, has played 23 List A matches, accumulating 397 runs with a high score of 46. His best performance came in his debut year, averaging 21.60 in five fixtures. Descarte, known for his T20 skills, brings experience from the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) victory with Saint Lucia Kings. Gaston and Clarke, both promising talents, have shown their potential in regional and CPL matches. The Windward Islands will begin their campaign against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on November 19 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Saint Lucia kicked off their campaign in the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Under-23 Men’s Championship with a commanding 3-0 victory over defending champions St Vincent & the Grenadines on Wednesday, November 12, at the YMCA in St John’s, Antigua & Barbuda. The 2021 champions secured their win with set scores of 25-17, 26-24, and 25-12, positioning themselves as strong contenders for the championship trophy and a spot in the NORCECA 2026 Pan American Cup.

Head coach Levi Leonce expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, ‘The game was very informative; it was a good start. We still have some areas to improve, particularly our blocking, but we were strong behind the service line. I expect the team to be more technically sound and convincing in the upcoming matches.’

Saint Lucia set the tone early in the first set, racing to a 7-1 lead and forcing St Vincent & the Grenadines to call a timeout at 12-6. Despite a late push from their opponents, Saint Lucia closed out the set 25-17. The second set saw a resilient effort from the defending champions, who led for most of the set. However, Saint Lucia fought back, tying the game multiple times before clinching the set 26-24. The final set was a dominant display from Saint Lucia, who extended a narrow lead to a decisive 25-12 victory.

In other matches on Wednesday, Antigua & Barbuda defeated Anguilla 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-17), while Dominica overcame Grenada 3-1 (28-26, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18). Saint Lucia is set to face Anguilla and hosts Antigua & Barbuda on Thursday, aiming to continue their winning streak.