Match day has arrived for the U.S. Virgin Islands U-17 Lady Dashing Eagles as they prepare to take the field Monday against the Dominican Republic in their opening match of the 2026 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. AST in Managua, Nicaragua.
Head Coach Katie Quinlan emphasized the significance of the moment and the mindset she wants her players to carry as they step onto the international stage.
“My message to the players and the staff before we play Dominican Republic will be to pour everything into this opportunity, leave it all on the field, and embrace every challenge presented to them,” said Quinlan. “It will be pretty emotive and I hope to get them fired up.”
Preparation for CONCACAF qualifying has been deliberate and demanding, with a strong focus on both physical readiness and mental resilience.
“We have certainly tested the players in the lead up to this camp both mentally and physically,” Quinlan explained. “We are constantly evolving our competitive habits and developing the skills required to compete at this level. An important part of our programming has been ensuring the players remain engaged away from camps, introducing physical and technical challenges, accountability measures, and educational workshops to help them find a competitive edge.”
Since the current coaching staff’s arrival, building a clear team identity has been a central pillar of training.
“Our training focus has been around developing an identity and ensuring the team understands the expectations in each moment of the game,” Quinlan said. “We believe having a collective identity goes way beyond success in this competition. Our methodology will always be to develop competitive habits and intensity.”
As the Lady Dashing Eagles represent the U.S. Virgin Islands on the CONCACAF stage, the coaching staff hopes their performances resonate with supporters back home.
“I hope our families and fans are proud of what they see in our performances,” Quinlan added. “We will not take for granted the opportunity to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands. Please continue to share the love and fuel our fire.”
The U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation encourages fans and supporters to tune in, follow the team’s journey, and stand behind this talented group of young women as they begin their CONCACAF campaign.
