Sports
Football Collegians Start to Make Their Mark as Seasons Get into Full Swing
By Lionel E. Haven, BFA
Sep 8, 2009 - 10:38:35 AM

Nassau, Bahamas - The young Bahamian Foot-Scholars have started to make their mark on the college scene, as football gets into full swing. Not all have played as yet, but those that have are certainly making their mark.

Kyle Williams

Kyle Williams got an assist on the opening goal as his University of Tampa team won their first match 2-0 over Florida Memorial University. Two days later, they continued the win streak with a 1-0 victory over Clayton State, and ended the weekend with a 3-1 over North Georgia College .

 

Michael Bethel

Michael Bethel got his first goal of the year in the 3-1 victory.

Williams and Bethel are starters on the school team that is currently ranked Number 1 in the NCAA Division II Soccer Polls.

Cameron Hepple

Cameron Hepple scored the opening goal in his Bowling Green State University’s 2-0 win over Marshall University. Hepple’s tally came from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, which he dutifully buried into the top corner of the goal. Hepple is the team’s active career leader in assists (8) and points (24). Bowling Green then lost their next two matches, 3-0 to Louisville and 4-1 to the University of Kentucky to start their season at 1-2.

Lamar Cancino’s University of Charleston ( West Virginia) team is off to a good start, winning their first and third matches, 7-1 over Bluefield and 4-1 over Alderson-Broaddus, but losing in between to Cal, PA 3-2.

Dana Veth

Defender Dana Veth’s University of Minnesota-Morris team lost a tough match in over-time to Augsburg, 1-0. The fact that their opponents are ranked 17^th in the nation did not make the loss any more bearable, especially since the winning goal was an own goal of a Minnesota-Morris defender. However the team rebounded in their second match to defeat Hamline 1-0. Veth and his defensive cohorts held Hamline to only five shots on goal for the match. Minnesota-Morris’ third match held the same scoreline as the second match, 1-0, but this time they were on the losing end to St. John’s. The team currently sits at 1-2 on the season.

Kelly Simon

Bahamas Women’s International Kelly Simon got her first taste on the collegiate scene, but it was a bitter one as her North Carolina Wesleyan College team lost 3-1 to St. Andrews, then 7-1 to Randolph-Macon. Simon was productive, however, leading the team with 6 shots in the games, but was unable to score thus far. A pair of Bahamian Women’s Internationals lead Southern University’s women’s soccer team.

Goalkeeper D’nae Capron leads the conference with 30 saves, but has seen a lot of shots in the team’s four matches, all of which resulted in loses.

 

Nakesha Rolle

Her teammate, Nakesha Rolle , is one of the team’s leaders.

Talitha Wood

Senior International Talitha Wood ’s South Carolina State University team has a 1-2 record, winning their home opener 3-0 over Southern Virginia, and losing 4-2 to The Citadel and 2-0 to Campbell University in their second and third matches respectively. Wood, who has switched from midfield to defense, has played in all of the team’s matches.

Denarika Bostwick ’s Southwest Baptist University team is off to a very good start, winning their first two matches. In the opener, the team defeated Quincy, Ill 2-1 and in the second defeated Missouri S & T 1-0. Their third match, against Abilene Texas, was cancelled due to weather and the team then drew their fourth match 2-2 against Dallas Baptist.

Other Bahamians are awaiting their opportunity to shine on the field, but weather has delayed a few of them. We will continue to keep our eyes on them, as they continue to shine and represent The Bahamas.

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