Deshae Darrell, the Bermuda Under-20 striker, says that being chosen as the MVP during her debut season in the NJCAA Division III Women’s Championship was beyond her wildest dreams.

The Brookhaven College sophomore received the award after helping the No 2 seeds Lady Bears capture a maiden national title and finishing as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with five goals in three appearances.

Darrell netted twice in each of their quarter-final and semi-final victories over Montgomery College and Rowan College at Gloucester County and was also on target in a 2-1 extra time win over No 1 seeds Herkimer in the final at Tompkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York, last weekend.

“I was shocked to receive MVP of the tournament,” Darrell said. “To achieve something like that is a big accomplishment. I have never been there before and not everyone makes it there. I was not only representing my school but also my country and it was a good experience.”

Darrell’s goal in the final was her seventh of the postseason and 21st overall having scored 14 goals during the regular season to claim the Region 5 MAC Conference’s Golden Boot award.

“Personally I did accomplish some goals that I have set like getting the golden boot,” Darrell said. “I had a good season and now I hope to get a scholarship from a university and finish my career there.”

Brookhaven’s national title capped an outstanding season in which they claimed conference honours for the first time as well as the regional title.

“To win the NJCAA national championship is the stuff that dreams are made of,” said Robert Williams, the Brookhaven assistant coach and former Devonshire Colts player.

“It is the first in the programme’s history so it makes it that much better.”

Williams was influential in recruiting Darrell and her Bermuda Under-20 team-mate Micah Pond at the Texas-based college.

“We recruited hard all off season to bring in a team capable of winning the national tournament,” Williams said.

“We believed from day one that we could do it, especially after finishing in third place last year.

“Jimmy [Brookhaven head coach Jimmy Elder] and I were very strategic in our scouting and recruiting and all of our recruits paid dividends.

“Brookhaven is definitely on the map now and we have made history that the players and coaches will never forget.”

Midfielder Pond also played an integral role in the Lady Bears historical campaign and was named in the All-Tournament Team at the NJCAA Division III Women’s Championship.

“It was a tough season,” Darrell said. “We had our ups and downs but we overcame that and everyone worked hard and was dedicated in achieving what we achieved.

“Our coaches pushed us hard and wanted the best for us and there was a positive outcome in the end.”