ORLANDO, Florida – Anguilla conceded a goal just before halftime and two more as the second half was coming to an end in a loss to Curacao as both opened their 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship (CU15G) campaigns on Thursday.
But to goalkeeper and captain Samisha Connor, even though she wished the final outcome was different, there’s no time for disappointment. In fact, she’s already looking forward to Friday’s match.
“The game was very challenging, seeing that we are a small island playing against Curacao, which is a tad bigger,” Connor told CONCACAF.com. “The game ended 3-0, which was heart sinking, but our players are still hopeful for our game tomorrow against Barbados. I really don’t think the game left us with a bad {outlook]. It was good, it was a good game.”
Connor started playing football four years ago and was asked to join the Anguilla side that traveled to the Cayman Islands for the inaugural CU15G in 2014. The now 14-year-old has noticed a difference in the team since that competition.
“Our players that played two years ago with me are more mature and have a better understanding of the game,” remarked Connor, who plays her club football with Gazelles FC. “We play better as a team and have more cohesion.”
That increased degree of togetherness was evident against Curacao, helping to produce some good football over extended stretches.
“We went onto the field with a great mentality,” Connor noted. “We thought that we could have won. We really had the enthusiasm from each other and had motivation from our coaches.”
As for her favorite player, Connor quickly named United States women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo, saying: “Hope Solo, she’s my idol. She’s the best goalkeeper I have ever seen. She never stops, she never quits, she works hard.”
The exact same can be said for Anguilla’s first-choice CU15G custodian.
