DEFENDING champions St Andrew High crushed Campion College 7-0 as the 2014 ISSA/Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) High Schoolgirls’ and boys’ Leagues got underway at the Mona Astro Turf Field on Wednesday.

The defending champions were led by two goals each from Ombetta Gordon, Simone Gardener and Brittany Smith, and one from Christina Edwards.

Meanwhile, Excelsior High also registered a crushing 7-0 win over Mona High through four goals from Shariann Osbourne, Dayna Burton with two and one from Cyrinn Watt.

Four goals from the stick of Rickey-Marie Wisdom, three goals from Antonette Baxter and one from Shanique Williams gave St Hugh’s their big 8-1 win over Paine High, whose lone goal came from Juliet Xymines.

The schoolgirls section has been divided into two zones with the winners and runners-ups advancing to the semi-finals, while the schoolboys have been divided into three zones.

The top-two, along with the best third-placed teams, qualify for the Super Eight playoffs, which is the quarter-final knockout.

The competition continues this afternoon with Kingston College playing Tivoli High in the boys section, starting at 3:15.

— Gerald Reid