Dayes Relishes National Team Experience with Jamaica

When senior Mikayla Dayes stepped out on the pitch against Team USA on June 14, a lifelong goal to compete at the national level had been realized. Earning her first international cap with the Jamaican National Team in the closing minutes against the U.S., Dayes took in the moment and reflected on her journey to get there.  

"Just stepping out on that field you have so much respect for the stage you're on and the players you're competing against," said Dayes. "You're playing against the top players in the world. It truly tests you with where you are as a player and where you need to be."

 

The daughter of Jamaican parents who immigrated to Canada, Dayes and her sister Malikae began the process last year to become Jamaican citizens to gain eligibility to compete for the national team.  

"My sister and I had been working towards getting our Jamaican passports, so we had been waiting on that before we could take the next step…There were some injuries and then I got a call from coach [Hubert Busby] and wanted to see if I wanted to play and I said yes."  

Dayes jumped on a flight in early June to Texas to train with the Jamaican side prior to friendlies with Nigeria and the United States. Though it was a fast-moving process, it didn't take long for the rising senior forward to get acquainted with her new teammates.     

"As soon as I got there I felt very comfortable," said Dayes. "The girls were very welcoming, and there were some other new players there so we had something in common. But it was really easy to get along with everyone and I learned a lot from them watching them play."  

Dayes was one of five current collegiate players to join the Reggae Girlz' ranks for this series of international friendlies, which first included a 1-0 win over Nigeria on June 10. There was a familiar face on the opposite sideline as well, as former Terp goalkeeper Yewande Balogun suited up for the Nigerian side.  

Head coach Ray Leone was keeping his eye on the action in Texas and Dayes as the week progressed, and was delighted when the moment came for her.    

"I was so thrilled to see Mikayla make her first international appearance," said head coach Ray Leone. "Very few players ever get the opportunity to compete for a national team at this level, so this experience will be priceless for her. Seeing Mikayla and Midge [Purce], who I coached at Harvard, matchup on the world stage truly gave me a great sense of pride as a coach." 

Though brief, the experience was an impactful one for Dayes, who is as excited as ever to return to action in College Park this fall.   

"Just spending time around these women it really helped me realize where I need to be to play at that level," said Dayes. "I'm definitely working on becoming cleaner, sharper and more disciplined in my game. So I want to translate that into my upcoming season this fall."    

-Terps-