BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 1, 2019– Two weeks remain in the regular season of the National Amateur Women’s League (NAWL) 2018-2019 Closing Season, and 3 teams from each group are already guaranteed a playoff spot, with only 1 spot in each group not settled yet (See team standings below); but where the race is hot is for the Goal Scoring Title, and it has become a “two horse” race between Gladiators’ Kaite Jones and Jewel Fury’s Fatima Romero. In fact, considering that the competition is different in the two groups, there should probably be a scoring champion award for each group. (See scoring leaders table below.)
There were 3 afternoon games each scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 30 & 31, in Week 8 of the NAWL 2019 Closing Season.
On Saturday at the M.A. Stadium in Independence, undefeated Rumberas won (3-0) by default over Dangriga Pumas. Meanwhile, at the Victor Sanchez Field in Punta Gorda, the visiting Altitude from Independence crused home standing Ladies Freedom Fighters, 7-0, with goals from Tamara Baptist (2’ & 20’), Sabrina Eiley (33’ & 40’), Jelissa Foreman (48’ & 50’) and Zulma Ortega (56’). And at the Santa Elena Sports Complex, it was Black Orchid from Belize City with the 6-0 win over Royal Maya Hill, with goals coming from Twila Chaneb (35’), Sherean Tracey (53’ & 83’), Ada Cordova (71’), Shanell Gentle (74’) and Janelli Pott (77’).
On Sunday at the People’s Stadium in Orange Walk, in a clash of North Group rivals, home team Gladiators served visiting Verdes Rebels their first defeat of the season. Kaite Joines (41’, 49’, 59’ & 72’) scored all 4 goals for Gladiators in their 4-1 win over Verdes Rebels, whose only goal was by Florine Vasquez (6’). Meanwhile, at the Ricalde Stadium in Corozal, it was Corozal Scorpions, 4-1, over San Pedro Invaders, with goals from Maindy Canul (14’) and Dianira Lopez (66’, 67’ & 77″), while Allyson Rubi (88’) scored for Invaders. Finally, Belmopan’s Jewel Fury Bandits unleased their full fury upon Santa Elena Strikers at the Santa Elena Sports Complex, resulting in a 10-0 trashing of the Strikers, with Bandits’ goals coming from Fatima Romero (7’, 44’ & 47’), Jada Brown (8’, 16’ & 73’), Kursha Pollard (20’ & 59’), Sandra Samayoa (80’) and Jenivi Quiroz (81’).
After 2 more weeks of regular season games, the top 4 teams from each group with come together for the quarterfinal playoffs.
Upcoming Week 9 games:
Saturday, April 6
3:00 p.m. – (S) Rumberas vs Santa Elena Strikers – M.A. Stadium
4:00 p.m. – (S) Dangriga Pumas vs Altitude – Carl Ramos Stadium
4:30 p.m. – (S) Jewel Fury Bandits vs Ladies Freedom Fighters – Isidoro Beaton Stadium
7:30 p.m. – (N) San Pedro Invaders vs Black Orchid – Ambergris Stadium
Sunday, April 7
1:00 p.m. – (N) Verdes Rebels vs Corozal Scorpions – Norman Broaster Stadium
3:00 p.m. – (N) Gladiators vs Royal Maya Hill – People’s Stadium