After suffering a first loss in the Trinidad and Tobago Women's League Football (WoLF) on Sunday, the national under-17 women bounced back to form with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Joe Public on Wednesday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Coached by Norwegian Evan Pellarud, the junior Soca Princesses fell 1-0 to Tobago FC in a game made tough by the return of players on scholarship in the USA to the Tobago squad.
The T&T U-17s were particularly vulnerable to the speed of Kennya "Ya Ya" Cordner, while US-based Candace Edwards got the winning goal, inflicting the national team's first defeat in four matches this season..
On Wednesday, the Under-17s faced an equally tough game against Joe Public, which coach Pellagru felt was very good for his young charges who are preparing to host next year's FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.
Joe Public got their goal through former national striker Kathy Ann Nixon, while defender Reanna Omadeen netted for the Soca Princesses.
The point was enough to keep the T&T U-17s top of the table with ten points from five matches.
Earlier this month, the U-17s had an intensive training camp along with members of both the senior and U-20 Women's teams in Tobago on the June 6-7 weekend. The camp was headed by Pellarud, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's director of women's football, in collaboration with several local sports men and women and was the second such camp the U-17s have participated in under the Norwegian.
He labelled the Tobago camp a success and hopes to have similar ones in the future.
"A healthy rivalry exists between all the female teams, we simply attempted to harness the positive energy by pitting the teams against each other," said Pellarud.
During the camp, the U-17s played two matches over the weekend, with a win and a draw. Pellarud said despite the results he was proud of the girls.
"The second game was a lot tougher as they played against many foreign-based players, including Candace Edwards and Kimika Forbes. The exposure is good for them and I am hoping to have similar matches in the future," said the coach. "The team has been consistently performing well. We are continuing our training schedule and as the U-17 WWC approaches the final team will be identified."
WoLF Results - Premier Division.
June 14
Tobago FC 1 v T&T U-17s 0
June 17
Joe Public 1 v T&T U-17s 1
United Petrotrin 8 v Central United 0
First Division
Point Fortin 10 v Cocoyea Young Hearts 0
Defence Force Sweaters 2 v Trotters 1