K’Shaela Burch-Waldron enjoyed an extremely successful stint away on international duty, helping Bermuda win back-to-back gold medals in the International Island Games.
The Games, which took place in Orkney, an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland, saw the Gombey Warriors take on Jersey, Isle of Wight and Shetland in the group stage, in which Bermuda prevailed to the knockout stage with a 100% record, seeing them top their group.
Following a 3-1 comeback win against Jersey, which saw strikes from Jaden Masters, Khyla Brangman and Jya Rattaray Smith cancel out Anita Tavares’ early opener for the Jerseyans, Burch-Waldron made her first contribution of the tournament with the second goal in a 2-0 win over Isle of Wight, playing 90 minutes as Bermuda secured their place in the knockout stage with a game to spare.
With Bermuda just needing to avoid defeat in their final group game against Shetland, Naquita Robinson’s side sealed another 2-0 win to top Group D with three wins from three, with Burch-Waldron again completing 90 minutes, and preceded a crucial semi-final against Gozo two days later, in which Bermuda swept their Maltese opponents aside with a stunning 3-0 win, with goals from Masters, Emily Cabral and Symira Lowe-Darrell sending Burch-Waldron and the Gombey Warriors into the final.
There, Bermuda would compete for gold against Isle of Man, who they previously defeated in the Semi-Final two years prior on their way to winning gold in Guernsey. In their search for back-to-back gold medals in the Island Games, Burch-Waldron started in what proved to be a tough test against the Yellows, with a goalless 90 minutes sending the tie to Extra Time.
Bermuda were almost left heartbroken when they went 1-0 down after 110 minutes, but the Gombey Warriors drew level eight minutes via the spot to force a penalty shootout, where Khyla Brangman – who scored the penalty – went two to the good from 12 yards, along with Koa Goodchild, goalkeeper Zakhari Turner and Taznae Fubler who all converted their kicks, with Turner also making a save and watching another effort go wide of her right-hand post to seal gold with a 4-2 shootout victory.
