Sports
Bahamian Collegiate Soccer Players Update
By Lionel Haven, BFA
Nov 18, 2008 - 11:35:53 AM

A number of young Bahamian soccer players are plying their skills in colleges and universities in the United States, and largely to great success. The Bahamas Football Association follows the exploits of these young Bahamian internationals as they continue to spread the message of the growth and development that is being carried on in the sport in the country. The following gives an update on some of these athletes.

Dana Veth – University of Minnesota Morris

UMM has only been playing soccer for a short period of time, but have reaped significant success in the UMAC Region. Just recently, the school won their second post season championship, defeating St. Scholastica 1-0 in the final match. They now sit and wait to see if they will be invited to the NCAA Championships. Bahamian U-23 and senior men defender Dana Veth has proven a stalwart in his school’s team, starting in 19 of the teams 22 matches, missing out only to injury. A strong defender, and one of the best headers of the ball, Veth still contributed to his team’s offence with 2 goals on the year. The school finished with an 18-4-0 record, setting school records for most wins (previously 17, in 2007) and most goals, 59 (previously 54, also in 2007).

Kyle Williams and Michael Bethel – University of Tampa

Two Bahamians are teaming up at the University of Tampa to great success. Over this past weekend, the school defeated Lynn University 3-2 to win the NCSS South Region Finals. Michael Bethel assisted on the opening goal of the championship match. Leading to this match, however, Bahamian defender Kyle Williams scored the winning (and only) goal in the school’s win in the semi-finals. Williams started in all 21 of the teams games this year and had 2 goals on the season. Bethel played in 15 of the 21 games, but contributed with 3 goals and 3 assists on the season. UT now heads to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals scheduled to be played this coming weekend.

Mackinson Altidor – Temple University

Temple University made it all the way to the A-10 Conference Semi-finals, before succumbing to Dayton 2-1. The school ended the season with a 10-5-4 record, a considerable improvement on last year. Bahamian Mackinson Altidor was featured on the cover of the school’s soccer media guide.

Cameron Hepple – Bowling Green University

Bowling Green finished with a disappointing 4-13-2 record on the season and lost in the quarter-finals of the Conference play-offs 2-0 to Northern Illinois. Bahamian international midfielder Cameron Hepple played his role in the team, scoring 2 goals and assisting on 4 more in playing in 10 of the teams 19 matches. These tallies put Hepple as the team leader in assists and third in goals.

Shemord Thompson – Rogers State University

Shemord played in 13 of the schools 18 matches, starting in 11 of the games. He contributed with 3 goals and 2 assists. The school lost 2-1 to Southern Nazarene in the conference playoffs.

Damont Mitchell – Hofstra University

Damont scored 3 goals in 5 games for Hofstra University this year. Playing in a difficult division, the team lost their opening match in the Conference play-offs to George Washington 5-0.

Talitha Wood , Kathrina Ellis and Cherlindria Thompson – South Carolina State University

Three Bahamian ladies are representing at South Carolina State University, Talitha Wood and Kathrina Ellis, both defenders, and Cherlindria Thompson, a midfielder. Both Wood and Ellis played in all 14 of the schools games on the year, while Thompson participated in 5 before succumbing to an injury. Seniors this year, the ladies will leave the school with a 2-10-2 record in their final year, but having won their final match.

Denarika Bostwick , Rochelle Fowler, Southwest Baptist College

Two more ladies ply their skills in the south, playing for Southwest Baptist College. The team finished with a 9-6-3 record, with Bostwick playing in 7 o the teams matches and Roshelle in another 2.

Nakesha Rolle , Leandra Ferguson, Southern University

Sticking to the south, Nakesha Rolle and Leandra Ferguson ply their skills at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Both girls played in all 15 of the school’s games, as they finished in a 3-12-0 record. Ferguson is a senior in her last year, and Rolle is a sophomore, but goalkeeper D’Nae Capron is presently at the school and will join the team next year, keeping the number of Bahamians at 2.

Other young Bahamians are playing in secondary institutions and prep schools in the United States, getting some good football as well as improving their education in the process. All of these “Foot-Scholars” are representing the Bahamas and Football in the Bahamas very well, and we are proud of them all.

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