The road to the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship began on Monday with the start of Qualifying in Curacao.

Saint Lucia got off to a rough start, losing big to the host territory to close out  GameDay 1.

The home fans were smiling as Curacao, featuring five professional players, downed Saint Lucia 5-2 to rise to first place in Group C.

All five Curacao goals came in the first half, with Taisha Hansen and Sadeyah Rosa each notching a brace and Queenjelly Alexandre chipping in with a goal as well.

Saint Lucia did close out in strong fashion though, scoring their two goals in the second stanza through Arnicka Louis and Cassandra Shepherd.

Coach Emmanuel Bellas told MBC Sports that although his team started poorly, he was pleased to see the improvement as the game wore on.

Saint Lucia next plays Antigua and  Barbuda on Friday.

THE WEST INDIES ARE READY FOR THE WORLD!

AS DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS, WI ARE PREPARING TO MOVE FULL STEAM AHEAD TO BE READY TO CONTEST THE COVETED ICC T20 WORLD CUP TO BE PLAYED IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND OMAN FROM OCTOBER 14TH TO NOVEMBER 17TH 2021.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH PHIL SIMMONS, FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEST INDIES SQUAD ON THURSDAY.

SIMMONS ASSERTS THAT WHEREAS THE BOWLING IS ADEQUATE TO THE TASK AT HAND, BATTING WILL BE THE TEAM’S MAIN STRENGTH AS THEY GUN FOR BACK TO BACK WORLD TITLES IN THIS FORMAT.

QIANA JOSEPH HIT A CAREER HIGH 21 RUNS FOR WEST INDIES WOMEN AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA TODAY.

WEST INDIES ONLY MADE 120 ALL OUT, HOWEVER.

SOUTH AFRICA EASILY GOT TO THE TARGET FOR THE LOSS OF JUST ONE WICKET, WITH NEARLY 150 BALLS REMAINING – LAURA WOLVAARDT MADE 71.

JOSEPH NOW HAS 27 RUNS AND TWO WICKETS FROM 4 ONE DAY INTERNATIONALS.

SHE IS JUST 20 YEARS OLD.