IMG Soccer Academy Concludes Bermuda Tour
The IMG Soccer Academy teams concluded their tour of Bermuda this past weekend [Apr 20] with the final round of matches played at the National Sports Center north field.
Four matches were played to wrap up the tour, with Bermuda claiming two victories and two draws by the end of the day.
NA U16 Select 2 – IMG U14 US Soccer Development Academy 0
The National Academy U16 select continued with their impressive form over the past week under the watchful eye of head coach Andrew Bascome.
A well organized IMG team was difficult to break down in the first half and the visitors were able to keep the Bermuda offense at bay. In the second half, Bermuda would open their score tally when Macquille Walker gave his team a 1-0 lead. Jason Symonds would add his name to the score sheet to make it 2-0, which was the final score.
NA Women’s Select 1 – IMG U15 Girls 1
The young IMG team would more than hold their own against a Bermuda select featuring many members of the U17 Women and supported by some members of the senior women’s program. Head coach Naquita Robinson is beginning to cast he eye over the players who may be considered for qualifiers later this year.
Victoria Costa would continue with her scoring form when she gave IMG a 1-0 lead. Bermuda would equalize through Aaliyah Nolan to level the score and finish the match at 1-1.
Coach Robinson will have benefited from having match time for the U17, U15, and some senior players over the weekend. The IMG team delivered credible performances, winning two matches and drawing one over the weekend.”
NA U14 Select 3 – IMG U15 Select 3
Bermuda opened the scoring inside the first five minutes when Jaquari Paynter found the back of the net to give the host a 1-0 lead. IMG settled into a rhythm and replied with three unanswered goals from Max Bilas, Sebastian Derby, and Guillermo Noriega to take a 3-1 lead at half time.
Bermuda responded in the second half with Paynter scoring his second of the match, and then T’ai Williams would level the score with a goal in the final minutes. The match would finish tied at 3-3.
NA U15 Select 2 – IMG U16 Select 0
The first half was evenly played and neither team could find the back of the net. In the second half, Nathan Trott would score his second in two games and Jahzarde Samuels would add his name to the score sheet as Bermuda ran out 2-0 winners.”
At a closing reception for the visiting teams following the matches, BFA President Larry Mussenden and Minister Wayne Scott expressed their thanks to the visiting contingent and welcomed the IMG Academy to return again next year.
IMG Soccer Academy Director Scott Dean expressed how pleased they were with all aspects of the tour and excitement about the Bermudian players who are enrolled in the residency program and those who will be joining in the fall.
There will be more news on developments for the BFA National Academy program in partnership with IMG Academy announced in the coming week. National Academy Director Richard Todd extended his thanks to Scott Dean, who is making his third trip to Bermuda inside the past six months, and the potential to grow this event next year with other programs already expressing interest to be a part.
