Saint Lucia Sparks Shine at CAC Netball

Saint Lucia Sparks secured a historic bronze medal victory on the final day of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, exciting the local fan base.

The Games were held from July 24 to August 8 in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

This accomplishment represents the netball team’s first team sport success at this level and a rare two-medal haul at an international multi-sport event, culminating in a win over Barbados on August 8.

Following Luc Chevrier’s silver medal in sailing, Saint Lucia’s Piton Sparks faced off against the Bajan Gems at the Ciudad Juan Bosch Sports Complex, emerging victorious with a score of 41-34. Although ranked #31 in the latest World Netball rankings, Saint Lucia achieved a landmark triumph over #19 Barbados, marking their first win over the Gems since 2010.

In the past 16 years, Barbados had dominated with eight wins against Saint Lucia across various tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games and Caribbean Championships.

Barbados started strong, taking an early lead of 12-10 with some efficient shooting. However, Saint Lucia quickly adjusted, outscoring Barbados 8-6 to tie the game 18-18 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Saint Lucia gained momentum and entered the final period with a 30-27 lead, ultimately delivering a commanding performance to secure the seven-point victory.

Goal attack and captain Melika Destang led Saint Lucia with 15 goals from 18 attempts, while goal shooter Dasha Eugene contributed 14 goals, bringing her overall tournament total to 95 goals on 131 attempts.

Young substitute Neriah Charlery, just 15 years old, was impressive with 12 goals from 14 attempts, showcasing an impressive 86 percent conversion rate. On defense, wing defender Jermia Martial recorded five interceptions, and goalkeeper Kiana Nelson anchored the backline with five interceptions and eight deflections. For Barbados, Faye Agard led the scoring with 18 goals from 24 attempts.

Saint Lucia concluded the tournament with three wins and two losses, scoring 184 goals and allowing 177. Trinidad & Tobago claimed gold by sweeping all five matches, while silver medallists Jamaica finished with four wins and one loss.

Member of Parliament for Dennery South, Alfred Prospere, congratulated the team, highlighting the significance of their recent victory at the Windward Islands School Games (WISG). He stated, “Huge congratulations to our talented WISG Netball Team on their outstanding achievements. From 1st Place at WISG to a historic 3rd Place at CAC, this is a phenomenal achievement!”

Prospere also praised Lizzy Dorvius, who was named MVP of the WISG Netball Team, and Coach Shem Maxwell for her leadership . He declared : “Your hard work, discipline, and commitment have brought tremendous pride to Dennery and Saint Lucia. Keep shining, keep pushing, and keep making history!”

Netball Saint Lucia also expressed their congratulations to the entire management team in an online post: “Your work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is seen on the court. Your dedication has created an environment where our athletes could compete, grow, and represent Saint Lucia with pride. Together, we continue to make history.”