Bermuda finished as runners-up at the inaugural Under-15 Girls Goombay Cup in the Bahamas, where they suffered only one defeat in five matches.

Under the guidance of former Bermuda defender Taznae Fubler and led by Riley Khan, the Lady Gombey Warriors started off the round-robin event with a 2-2 draw against US Virgin Islands on Friday.

Saturday featured Bermuda defeating Grenada 7-0 before they drew 0-0 with Turks & Caicos. On Sunday, the final day of the competition, the girls recorded a 4-1 triumph over the host nation, but the tournament ended with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Cayman Islands, who went on to be crowned champions.

From the five matches, Bermuda scored 13 goals and conceded four times. Kierra Broadley-Samuels, who was awarded tournament MVP, finished with three goals, the same number as Priya Dill.

The girls returned home to a warm reception at LF Wade International on Monday night and coach Taznae Fubler was thrilled with her team’s performance

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young women and what they accomplished throughout the tournament,” she said.

“We finished with two wins, two draws, and went into our final match against Cayman knowing the winner would be crowned champions.

“As this was my first tournament as head coach and as the youngest coach in the competition, it was a challenge from the very beginning.Managing five matches in 72 hours while ensuring every player received the required minimum of 50 minutes on the field was no easy task.

“But this team embraced every challenge with maturity, resilience, and an incredible team-first mentality.The players never lost sight of the job we came here to do. They pushed through fatigue, supported one another, and represented Bermuda with pride. Their commitment, attitude, and willingness to do whatever was asked of them made this experience incredibly rewarding.

“This is a special group of talented young women who are undoubtedly part of the future of women’s football in Bermuda. I have every confidence that

this is only the beginning for them, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow, succeed, and make our country proud.

“Thank you to the players, staff, families, and everyone who supported us throughout this journey. The result may not

have been the one we wanted, but the foundation we’ve built and the character this team displayed are something to be proud of.”