Facing one of the region’s strongest sides, the U.S. Virgin Islands Lady Dashing Eagles fell 12-0 to Nicaragua in their second match of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers on Tuesday at Estadio Miguel Chocorrón Buitrago, but the scoreline did not fully reflect the effort shown on the field, the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation announced in a press release.
The Lady Dashing Eagles were tested immediately by a deep and physical Nicaragua squad. Through the opening 22 minutes, the USVI defense stayed organized and limited the damage to a single goal while facing sustained pressure. The back line challenged every run, closed passing lanes, and forced Nicaragua into difficult shooting angles, according to the press release.
Playing with just one substitute available, the Lady Dashing Eagles were stretched as the match wore on, but they continued to compete despite fatigue and limited depth. The team maintained its shape and communication, even as Nicaragua’s attacking pressure increased, the press release stated.
Goalkeeper Kyliz Osorio anchored the USVI effort with a busy night in goal. Osorio faced a steady flow of shots and made multiple saves on close-range attempts, preventing the margin from growing further and giving her teammates a chance to regroup after each wave of attack, the release stated.
Nicaragua’s depth and finishing eventually broke through, but the Lady Dashing Eagles continued to press forward and support one another until the final whistle. The performance reflected a young program gaining experience against top regional competition, the release stated.
The match marked another step in the development of the U.S. Virgin Islands Women’s Under-17 program as it continues its campaign in the CONCACAF qualifiers, focused on growth, cohesion, and building toward future competitions, it stated.
