By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The top overall seed among the senior boys looked like the class of the division as the Samuel P Haven 2018 National Soccer Championships, presented by the IL Cares Foundation, kicked off yesterday.

The St Andrew’s Hurricanes scored a 3-0 win over the Patrick J Bethel Marlins out of Abaco in yesterday’s quarter-final at the Roscow Al Davies Soccer Field.

The Hurricanes got goals from Dwayne Kelly, Kaylene Smith and Zachary Knowles in the win.

Hurricanes head coach Yiorgio Croyle said his team was eager to get back onto the pitch and play competitively after the layoff following the BAISS championship weeks ago. “They responded very well, they were excited and they were looking forward to this tournament from the moment they won the BAISS championship game. From then they were inquiring about these games, so I’m just pleased at how they performed, after being off for a few weeks,” he said.

“They have to know they are the team to beat and they have to play like the team to beat. Most of all they have to perform like it. They have to know teams are hungry and teams are coming to take it to them, but I know they will respond accordingly because they don’t want that to happen.”

He added that the national championship will be a fitting enf to a stellar season for his side.

“We have to treat every game like a championship game,” Croyle said.

“I went to St Andrew’s myself so I know what this programme expects. To live up to those expectations you have to play every game like it’s your last game.”

Weather delays impacted the travel plans for the Marlins en route to New Providence this morning and they were afforded very little preparation prior to the match.

Despite the setbacks, head coach Christine Jenoure said her team gave a valiant effort despite falling short.

“I’m very proud of my guys, we came fresh off a flight this afternoon, we reached our hotel at 4:30pm, we reached the pitch at 5:45pm and we were on the pitch at 6:15pm,” she said.

“Anyone in Nassau knew there was bad weather from last night and first thing this morning so flights were delayed.

“We came on the mid-day flight, we were late and they didn’t think to push the game back or give us a chance.

“However, my guys played to the best of their ability given the circumstances and I’m proud of them nonetheless.”

Four games will be contested each afternoon of the three-day event. Match times are slated for a 4:30pm start on the 17th and 19th and a 1:30pm start for the medal round on the 21st.

BAISS qualifiers include the Hurricanes, Lyford Cay Dragons, Queen’s College Comets and Aquinas College Aces.

GSSSA participants will include the CR Walker Knights, CV Bethel Stingrays and Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves. Teams out of Grand Bahama will include the Bishop Michael Eldon School Warriors, Sir Jack Hayward Wildcats, Tabernacle Baptist Falcons and Lucayan International Buccaneers and the Marlins out of Abaco.

Four games are on the schedule for today (see page 3), opening with a senior girls’ matchup between the Aces (BAISS runners-up) and Stingrays (GSSSA runners-up) at 4:30pm. Game two in the senior boys’ division will feature rematch of the GSSSA championship series with the Knights (champions) hosting the Timberwolves (runners-up) at 5:55pm. In the senior girls’ division, the GSSSA champions Knights will face Grand Bahama runners-up, the BMES Warriors at 7:25pm. In the final matchup of the night in the senior boys’ division, The Lyford Cay Dragons will face the GBSSAA runners-up, the Jack Hayward Wildcats at 8:25pm.