Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso Girls held off a determined United States team to win 43–38 and secure their third successive victory at the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The Trinidad Express reported that Wednesday night’s contest remained competitive throughout, with the Americans putting T&T under early pressure and threatening another comeback in the closing stages. A late interception by centre Shantel Seemungal, followed by a quick goal from Samantha Wallace-Joseph, helped settle the match.
The Americans led 8–6 during the opening quarter before Trinidad and Tobago recovered to draw level at 8–8 by the first break. Neither side could immediately take control in the second period, with the scores tied again at 16–16 before the Calypso Girls established a 22–18 half-time advantage.
T&T widened the gap to 37–31 in the third quarter, but the USA continued to challenge. With the margin narrowed to 42–38 late in the game, Seemungal’s intervention and Wallace-Joseph’s finish helped the Caribbean side see out the victory.
Wallace-Joseph was named Player of the Match. She praised her teammates after a contest in which the Americans’ intensity demanded a strong response.
Head coach Liselle Johnson also welcomed the way her players handled the challenge. “It brought out the best in our ladies,” she told the Express, pointing to their teamwork and determination to maintain the lead.
Johnson said the competition reflected the development of teams across the region, including St Lucia, Barbados and the improving Americans. With two World Cup places at stake, she expected opponents to keep testing her side.
The result followed Trinidad and Tobago’s 61–45 victory over Grenada and 73–41 win against St Vincent and the Grenadines. After Wednesday’s matches, T&T and Barbados both had three wins and six points, with the hosts ahead on goal difference: plus 99 compared with T&T’s plus 53.
The Express listed Canada as Trinidad and Tobago’s next opponent, with that match scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Further fixtures against St Lucia and the British Virgin Islands precede a meeting with Barbados on Monday, October 26.
That closing encounter could prove significant in the qualification race. For the Calypso Girls, the narrow win over the USA kept their unbeaten start intact while demonstrating the sustained effort required to protect their position among the tournament’s leaders.
