Three Jamaican secondary school standouts led the way for St Andrew’s College (SAC) in Canada as they recently secured both the regional football crown and the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) National Soccer Championship.

According to a press release, senior co-captain Thierry Johnston and juniors Josh Henriques and Jayden Walters were all in the starting line-up in both finals as the Saints reeled off nine straight victories in the two events, on their way to claiming the school’s first Canadian and Regional ‘cup double’ in 10 years.

Thierry Johnston, a product of Campion College and Kingston Football Academy, was the defensive anchor for the Saints at centre back, while newcomer Jayden Walters, formerly of Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Ballaz and Liguanea United, bagged a tournament high seven goals from his striker position, which included a goal and an assist in the national championship final, according to the release.

It added that midfielder Josh Henriques, now in his second full season with the SAC first team, was ever-dangerous and added a pair of game winning goals including a 22-yard rocket that clinched the 2-1 victory in the national final over Crescent School.

“We have a global roster here at St Andrew’s College and Jamaica continues to be an important piece of our world football puzzle,” said SAC Director of Soccer and Head Coach, Adrian Bradbury. “Thierry, Josh and Jayden delivered beyond expectation all fall and we’re excited at what’s still ahead.”

In the group stage of the national event, the Saints topped Saltus School (Bermuda) 3-0, Lower Canada College (Quebec) 1-0 and Upper Canada College (Ontario) 4-1. SAC then opened the knockout round with a comfortable 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Montreal’s Selwyn House, before slipping past Saltus once again in the semifinal, this time by a 3-1 scoreline.

In their regional playoff run, the Saints slipped past UCC 2-1 in the quarterfinal and De La Salle 3-1 in the semifinal, before a convincing 3-0 victory in the final, with SAC not allowing a single shot on target.

St Andrew’s College is Canada’s largest all-boys boarding school and is home to the country’s only full-time academy-level soccer programme that is on the campus of an internationally recognised secondary academic programme.