Bermuda Under-18s 2

Mount Allison 2

Bermuda Under-18s kick-started their preparations for a international tournament in Guadeloupe with a draw against touring Canadian University team Mount Allison.

PHC Zebras' Casey Castle cancelled out the visitors opener, while Somerset Eagles youngster Anthony Hunter curled in a late equaliser in the first competitive match played at the $1.3 million BFA Field.

The national Under-18 team head to Guadeloupe next month and will take on academies from French top-flight clubs Olympic Marseille, Nancy, Caen as well Barbados, Haiti, French Guyana and the hosts.

Bermuda Football Association (BFA) technical director Derek Broadley said squad places were up for grabs: "I was pleased with the players tonight as it's the first time we've had them all together.

"We didn't give them any real direction and just let them go out there and play. The boys are fighting to make the national academy and the squad for the Guadeloupe tournament and we'll be taking a close look at them over the coming weeks.

"There were certainly some good performances tonight."

The Guadeloupe international tournament runs from April 7 to 11. Bermuda and Mount Allison soccer go back many years with islander Clarence Terceira, known as locally "Tessi" founding the first intercollegiate soccer team at from, Sackville, New Brunswick, 60 years ago.

Some of the Bermudian Mounties who have contributed to the success of Mount Allison's programme over the years include such players as Larry Madeiros, Rick Thompson, Ken Siggins, George Shaw, Michael Scott, Rob Steynor, Lynn Hall, Darren Johnston, Allan Young, and Vince Chaves.

The team are scheduled to face Somerset Trojans tomorrow at 7 p.m. and a High School All-Star team at 1 p.m. on Friday. Both matches are to be played at BFA Field.