Excelsior High Head Coach Xavier Gilbert had nothing but admiration for his players who he believes have proven to be the finest female high school team in the country.

Excelsior won their seventh consecutive championship on Monday, defeating Holmwood Technical 8-0 at the Stadium East football field in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Tip Friendly Society High Schoolgirls Football tournament.

Excelsior’s captain and national representative Shaneil Buckley scored three goals. Buckley, the tournament’s and final’s Most Valuable Player, scored in the first, third, and 10th minutes, bringing her season total to 45 goals and winning her the tournament’s leading goalscorer award.

Cassandra Smith scored twice in the 32nd and 68th minutes, respectively, while Shauntai Pryce (fourth minute), Jada-Lee Bryan (46th minute), and Shylah Francis (79th minute) scored one goal apiece for Excelsior.

“To be honest, I knew that the match wasn’t going to be that difficult, like the semi-final against Garvey Maceo, but it was easier than we anticipated. It was a good performance as the girls came out on the front foot, started from ball one, and managed to control the game right throughout,” Gildbert told the Jamaica Observer.

The reigning champs weren’t expecting it to be this easy, but Buckely wasted no time in putting the audience on its feet as she brilliantly skipped by two defenders to open the score in the opening minute of play. The fans erupted even more when Buckley scored her and the team’s second goal in the third minute, dancing among Holmwood Technical defenders.

Pryce got on the board a minute later, scoring from close range in minute four. Buckley wasn’t done yet, racing through defenders and chipping the ball over Brihana Staple’s head in goal for Holmwood Technical for her third and Excelsior’s fourth goal in the 10th minute.

Destiny Powell entered the fray, but her performance was just for the sake of the audience, as she blasted wide of the target in the 12th minute after defeating four Holmwood Technical players.

Using her strength to her advantage, Smith rifled one into the top corner of the net to give Excelsior a comfortable 5-0 in the 32nd minute. No further goals were scored in the first half.

Excelsior added three more goals in the second half, led by Bryan, Smith, and Francis, to win their 11th title overall.

Holmwood Technical’s players had their chances, but Excelsior’s defence, led by tournament golden glove winner Schenell Goodhall, intercepted dangerous goalscoring attempts.

“In terms of preparation, I don’t think I have done badly with the team, but the team is very young and I had no idea that we would have been in the final. I am grateful that these girls have made it to the final, and this is a learning process, and they will only get better from here on,” said Maurice Duncan, coach of Holmwood Technical.