Jamaica Reggae Girlz captain and leading goalscorer Khadija “Bunny” Shaw isn’t getting carried away by their recent 18-0 thrashing of Dominica in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier at Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

Instead, she’s fixated on helping to sharpen the team’s edge.

The scoreline in the Group B encounter on November 29, smashed Jamaica’s previous FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier record of 14-0 against St Lucia in 2014 — a thunderous statement of intent.

“We had a professional performance against Dominica. I think we think we scored a lot of goals but we could have had more goals, being more clinical, and I think that’s something that we are going to have to work on,” Shaw said, pinpointing the team’s next focus.

For Shaw, donning the national colors is “an honour” — especially amid Jamaica’s current challenges.

“This is the start of the qualifiers and we wanted to firstly focus on ourselves as always, and I think we did a very professional performance against Dominica. I think, I’m sure, fans and people back home would appreciate it right now, especially that they’re going through a difficult time,” she said, emphasising the team’s role as morale boosters.

With a third-consecutive World Cup appearance in sight, Shaw stressed maintaining standards.

“I think, as a group, we have to maintain the standard despite whatever team we play. There’s always room for improvement — what we do on the ball is as important as what we do off the ball.”

Returning to the fold after a break, Shaw’s adapting to new faces.

“I’m trying to learn, get familiar [with], and get back into the rhythm,” she said, blending veteran leadership with fresh energy.

Former captain and defender Konya Plummer got the celebration started when she struck in the second minute. The floodgates opened, and the goals flowed like a crimson tide. Shaw, Kalyssa Van Zanten, and Jody Brown hit hat-tricks that sliced through Dominica’s defences with precision.

Shaw netted in the fourth, 39th, and 43rd minutes and with those goals, the Manchester striker recorded her 60th international goal for Jamaica. Van Zanten’s goals came in the seventh, 21st, and 26th minutes, Brown got het glory in the ninth, 35th, and 81st minutes.

Deneisha Blackwood, a wall-turned-menace, doubled down (51st and 89th minutes), Natasha Thomas struck in the 86th and 88th minutes, Shaneil Buckley in the 81st and 90+2 minutes for two each, while Atlanta Primus (12th minute) and Shania Hayles (90+1 minute) added exclamation points.

“I think, to captain this team, who has been to two World Cups and hunting for the third, is a privilege and honour to lead the Girlz out. I think we also have a lot of leaders within the group which helps playing at a very high level,” she said.

“When we [senior players] come in, it’s not just one person, it’s a group and I think that’s what translates throughout the team and so I think we just pick each other up when we’re not on it and commend each other when we are on it. I think the game against Dominica can tell by the goals we scored. We were clinical but I think we in terms of areas to improve we could be even more clinical,” Shaw said.

Jamaica forward Khadija Shaw dribbles the ball during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Group C football match against Italy at Auguste-Delaune Stadium in Reims, eastern France, on June 14, 2019. (Photo: AFP)