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Stephenson’s hat-trick highlights U20 Girlz opening win
February 21, 2025
An opening day hat-trick from young Reggae Girl Alyssa Stephenson highlighted Jamaica's 7-0 thumping of St Vincent and the Grenadines to open their Concacaf Women's U20 Qualifiers campaign yesterday.
Jamaica defeated their Caribbean opponents in Group D action at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua.
Stephenson's hat-trick (14th, 45th, 59th) was accompanied by goals from Avery Johnson (24th), Maya Raghunandanan (28th), Jaileah McPherson (41st) and Andrene Smith (44th).
Stephenson got the ball rolling for the U20 Girlz when she opened the scoring in the 14th minute after an inspiring run from down the left flank saw her through on goal, to slot home to the near post.
Johnson doubled the lead 10 minutes later, skipping past her markers to fire home, as the goals came quick and fast.
Raghunandanan's roulette on top of the box was topped off with a low-driven shot, that snuck past Vincentian goalkeeper G-Riesa Joseph.
In a six-minute span, Jamaica would move from 3-0 lead to 6-0 as they upped the ante yet again with a wave of attacks.
Team captain McPherson would convert her free kick in the 41st minute, before Smith added her name to the scoresheet three minutes later.
Three minutes into time added, Stephenson would get her second goal to close out the first half.
She would return for the hat-trick, however, in the second half, as the team secured all three points after a brilliant team performance.
Jamaica will continue their campaign in Group D with their next assignment against St Kitts and Nevis on Saturday, before closing out the first round against hosts Nicaragua on Monday.
The winner of the group will advance to the Concacaf U20 Women's Championships, where they will join the United States and Mexico, who have already been given a bye into the competition.
The top four teams from the championship would then qualify for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup.
