Blackman Earns Spot on Barbados National Team

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – Junior forward Washida Blackman was recently named to the Barbados National Team as announced by head coach Lennux Ferdinand on January 5.

Blackman was invited to train with the team in Barbados and participate in a three-match trail with the squad after which Coach Ferdinand extended her a spot on the National Team.

The Snellville, Ga. native was one of only 10 overseas based players selected to the 37-member squad which will begin its attempt to qualify for the Women’s World Cup by participating in the CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup starting on April 7.

“I knew this girl had something special when I saw her on video, her movement, positioning and holding off her defender and she showed it on her visit to Barbados during trials,” Ferdinand said. “This girl will be a great asset to the team and with a little more fine-tuning in and around the 18-yard box there will be many goals coming from her. I can see her presenting a lot of problems for defenders in the coming future.”

Blackman was born in Barbados to two Barbadian parents, but moved to the United States when she was two years old. Since arriving at Mercer to play women’s soccer, Blackman has developed into a force on the offensive end for head coach Tony Economopoulos. For her career, Blackman has 30 points on 12 goals and seven assists and was just recently named to the A-Sun All-Conference second team following the conclusion of the 2013 campaign after leading the Bears with 16 points on six goals and four assists.