Haley Haberkorn (on ball) netted a brace for Marian Academy
Defending champions Marian Academy and Region One’s Waramuri Primary will face off in a hotly-contested MVP Sports Girls’ Under-11 Pee-Wee final, following a semifinal round of similar excitement on Saturday.
Fans, parents and other supporters at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground were treated to two thrilling semis.
The 2023 champions, Marian, were the first to book their spot in the tournament’s finale, overcoming Potaro Primary 3-1.
After stiff defence from Potaro in the opening minutes of the game, Marian Academy Captain Ella Fernandes put her team on her back and broke the ice in the 16th minute.
A look at the contest between Waramuri and St John the Baptist Primary
Six minutes later, Haley Haberkorn made it a 2-0 game after finding the back of the net.
The nine-year-old Haberkorn returned in the 30th minute, dribbling through Potaro’s defence to add the cherry on top with her team’s third goal.
In the second semifinal, Waramuri Primary needled St John the Baptist Primary for the second time this tournament to punch their ticket to the final.
Marian Academy celebrate
Capitalising off of an early free-kick opportunity, Waramuri Primary’s first shot at the goal was saved, but a rebound shot off the boots of Attai Harris found the back of the net in the eighth minute.
It was déjà vu for St John the Baptist who were unable to pull one back, suffering a similar fate as in their first-round encounter with Waramuri.
In the placement games, West Ruimveldt’s Ariel Farley pierced the goal thrice in the 1st, 3rd and 13th minutes to help her school to a 3-0 victory against Genesis Academy.
Meanwhile, Stella Maris pulled off a 2-0 victory against Smith Memorial Primary. Gabreann Thomas opened the scoring in the third minute. Then, Jada Cranmore added to her team’s tally in the 29th minute to seal the win.
The MVP Sports Girls’ U11 tournament will conclude on Saturday, December 8.
