The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE it came down to a pair of penalty kicks in the shootout for the CR Walker Knights to prevail 3-1 over the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, the Government High Magics doubled up the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves 2-0.

In their sudden death playoff games yesterday at the Roscow Davies Developmental Centre, the Knights and the Magics booked their tickets to the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association’s senior boys soccer championship.

It was a double dose of victory for CR Walker as their senior girls advanced to the final as well to take on Anatol Rodgers on Friday. The Knights polished off Doris Johnson with a 4-0 decision and the Timberwolves prevailed with a 2-0 decision over the CV Bethel Stingrays.

Knights 3, Mystic Marlins 1: Obryan Hinds and Christopher Neely booted in a pair of penalty shots in the shoot-out as CR Walker broke a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation.

Both teams were scoreless in the two five minute overtime period to set the stage for the shootout and the shots by Hinds and Neely got past Doris Johnson’s goalkeeper Darius Agenor.

“I think both teams performed their best. For us, we had the game we expected, but in the end, the guys managed to contain their composure and we did it in the shootout,” said CR Walker’s head coach Kellan Lewis.

“In the shootout, you never know how it go. We got the two goals and that was enough for us to move on to the next round. We just have to have a better play, better possession, better everything. Hopefully our guys will come out and play.”

The Mystic Marlins’ attempt at the penalty shots were blocked by Knights’ keeper Brandon Adderley.

In regulation, Agenor blocked a free kick by MiKendy Pul that could have secured the win for CR Walker. It was Paul’s second free kick, the first coming in the first half as he gave the Knights a 1-0 lead.

Petersen St Jean came back in the second half with the equalizer for Doris Johnson, coached by Cedric Stewart.

Magics 2, Timberwolves 0: James Alphonse came through with the initial goal for Government High early in the first half. Late in the second half, Rockey Maichette scored the insurance goal for their shutout.

“We played excellent. The game went according to our game plan and kept on fighting,” said Anatol Rodgers’ coach Melvin Miller. “We did what Government High had to do and not worry about the noise in the market. In unity is strength.”

Miller said their ultimate goal is to win the championship and they are one game away from it, but they are taking it one game at a time.

Anatol Rodgers ended up losing two players, who got ejected from the game late in the second half for unsportsmanlike conducts.

Senior Girls

Timberwolves 2, Stingrays 0: Destiny Adu and Adessa Knowles scored a goal each in the first half and Anatol Rodgers’ 2-0 lead up held as they clinched their berth into the senior girls final.

“They did an excellent job and I’m looking forward to us carrying this momentum over into the championship on Friday against CR Walker,” said Anatol Rodgers head coach Oliver Lynch.

“We have two injuries that we have to compensate for, but we feel okay going into it.”

Knights 4, Mystic Marlins 0: Fredericks Pierre opened the scoring spree in the first half and Angel Williams added the first of her two to give CR Walker a 2-0 lead going into the half.

After the break, Williams scored her second goal and late in the period, Samina Moss came through with the final one as the Knights punched their ticket to the senior girls final.

“Words can’t explain. I am so proud of the girls,” said Tamara Louis, a co-captain for CR Walker, coached by Tia Rolle. “We put God first and he let us get the victory.”

Louis, who hopes to leave on a winning note when she gradate this year, said they have a legacy to leave behind with a team loaded by 10th graders making their debut.

And co-captain Aailyah Newbold, who is also graduating this year, said the team worked very hard and the results showed in them earning their berth in the final.

“We take everything serious and we stayed focused,” she said. “We came out with the victory and with God on our side, we know that any and everything is possible.”

Note: Today, the junior championships will be played starting at 4 pm when both Anatol Rodgers and the SC McPherson Sharks will square off in both the boys and girls games.