Uruguay earned a wide victory 9-2 over Barbados, Argentina surprised Chile with a 10-nil margin, USA beat Canada 5-1 and the host team defeated Mexico with a confortable 4-nil win during the second day at the Junior Pan American Championship, National Hockey Stadium in Tacarigua.
Match 1 URU vs BAR
A cloudy morning with a nice refreshing breeze created a much more comfortable environment for hockey. Both teams came off of difficult opening match losses. Uruguay, ranked 23 places above Barbados, clear favourites to win.
Uruguay came out the stronger of the teams pushing Barbados right into their 25-yard area. Barbados struggled early to maintain possession, but were compact in defence and did not give up any clear goal scoring opportunities. Uruguay continued to press high, with only CB Diaz near the halfline. Barbados slowly gained in confidence, spreading the field and attempting to pass the ball out of the press. Uruguay continued to dominate possession and looked more likely to open the scoring. In the 7th minute Barbados worked the ball down their right wing to Krysten Mayers who made a strong solo run to slot the ball past Sanchez in the Uruguay goal for a shock 1-0 lead. Uruguay responded well and immediately went back on the attack, but again Barbados showed good discipline in defending their circle. In the 14th minute though a long ball into the circle rebounded off of the post to Tatton who made no mistake with the reverse stick shot to equalise for Uruguay. Two minutes later Chewitt from Barbados played a dangerous ball into the Uruguay circle eventually earning a PC. Barbados then worked a lovely option play forcing a save from Sanchez. Wilson was first to the rebound slapping it in to the goal for Barbados to lead again 2-1. Uruguay were again forced to play from behind, but met a Barbados team growing more confident as the half progressed. The Uruguay pressure forced a series of PCs that were well defended by Barbados. In the 29th minute Uruguay’s 4th PC was flicked by Petrik Vidal and the rebound off of GK Alleyne was volleyed in by Vega. Uruguay continued to press, but could not breach a Barbados defense well organised by captain Edwards. With the halftime score 2-2 Barbados would be thinking that they could force an upset.
Uruguay started the second half as they did the first pushing Barbados right back into their 25-yard area. Uruguay were less forgiving forcing an early PC, which was well defended again by the Barbados defense. Uruguay would not be denied and in the 40th minute Amadeo pushed the ball past Alleyne for their first lead of the game. Two minutes later a Petrik Vidal flick was deflected in by Algorta to extend their lead. Barbados continued to fight, but they started to wilt under Uruguay’s pressure game and gaps started to open up. Curci, Castro and Algorta found themselves with more space to play and they attacked relentlessly. Their persistence paid off earning them a PC in the 53rd minute, which was firmly flicked to the GK’s left by Algorta for a 5-2 lead. With Barbados captain Edwards serving a 5-minute suspension Uruguay took advantage to work the ball nicely into the circle for a Curci tap in on the last post in the 55th minutes. Uruguay focused their attacks down their left wing, and with Barbados fading, took advantage of tired legs to earn a series of PCs. In the 64th minute Algorta scored one of them to extend the lead to 7-2. Domingo showed her versatility to score her team’s next PC with a low flick to the GK’s right. Diaz completed the scoring in the 68th minute with a well taken shot. Barbados made one final push to score, but the final horn sounded to end a comprehensive, if hard earned Uruguay win.
Match 2 ARG vs CHI
The second match featured fierce South American rivals Chile v. Argentina. The teams completed energetic warm ups in what remained comfortable conditions under cloudy skies.
The game got started at a fast pace. Argentina very quickly established territorial and possession advantage using the high press and a compact defense to force Chile into what is becoming a familiar pattern of the dominant team playing almost exclusively in their attacking 25-yard area. It only took Granatto 3 minutes to give Argentina the lead when her skillful left side attack and shot leaving no chance for Abuselme in goal. Two minutes later another left side circle penetration by Jankunas ended in a spectacular reverse stick shot goal. Chile tried to press more aggressively, but this failed to close the gaps and it took good work by Krimerman and Cambiaso to keep Las Leoncitas out. Argentina earned their first PC in the 15th minute and Toccalino flicked powerfully past Abuselme’s right for a 3-0 lead. A few minutes later another Toccalino effort from the PC was well saved by Cambiaso on the left post. In the 22nd minute a wonderful passing move found Trinchinetti in the circle and her one touch layoff for Granatto was beautifully finished with a powerful shot for a 4-0 lead. Chile continued to work hard on defense and eventually created a couple circle penetrations, but Argentina remained patient and were able to keep their clean sheet going. In the 34th minute a skillful Ladra run on the right baseline created a rebound that Jardel Mateos slapped in for a 5-0 lead. The halftime horn sounded a minute later and Argentina went in 5-0 up at the break.
The second half saw a more balanced start with Chile getting the ball into the Argentine half. Argentina soon recovered their control and earned an early PC which was well saved by the Chile defense. Granatto and Trinchinetti tried to unlock a much more determined Chilean defense, but were unable to score. Chile continued to enjoy more possession in the Argentina half of the field, even enjoying sustained play near the 25-yard line. In the 46th minute Jankunas received the ball in space on top of the circle and made no mistake with her shot to increase Argentina’s lead to 6-0. This opened the floodgates after a quiet period for goals. Jardel Mateos made it 7-0 four minutes later. In the 53rd minute Toccalino flicked her PC to the right of Lopez to make it 8-0. Granatto demonstrated a magnificent piece of lifted skill that got the crowd into the game and earned her team a PC that went wide. Then in the 59th minute von der Heyde took a quick restart near the top of the circle and ran 5 yards to the right side of the circle and her shot went in off of Lopez. In the 63rd minute Chile created their best opportunity when Krimerman passed to Valdivia at the half and her pass put Peragallo through with a 1-on-1 with GK Gutierrez, but her shot from the acute angle hit the side board. Trinchinetti got free in the circle a couple minutes later, but her reverse stick shot went wide. In the final minute Jankunas tapped in a high rebound to complete a dominant 10-0 win. The result set up an interesting tussle for 2nd place in the group going into the last round of matches.
Match 3 CAN vs USA
The third match of the day featured another big rivalry, this time North American neighbours Canada and USA. The two also fighting for top spot in the Pool B.
The game began with USA the more energetic, pressing with 3 or 4 players. Canada managed well, using aerial passes from Dearmond into spaces behind the high press. This helped create room for them to pass the ball stick to stick. On 10 minutes USA created the first clear chance when a left side solo run by Sophia Tornetta led to a cross that Paolino just failed to get a touch on. Goodman and Angus kept good composure to break the high press and lead to Canada’s first dangerous moment, but USA’s Helgeson tackled well to keep Randhawah out. Canada earned a PC corner in the 16th minute, but the injection missed the tower top circle and the resulting counter attacking move ended in a pass from Woods to Major for a simple tap in. In the very next minute Canada earned a side line restart in the American 25-yard area which went to Pereira, who slipped it to Faiczak who took a shot destined to miss the far post when captain Woodcroft turned up to deflect in for the equaliser. The teams then fought a midfield battle in which neither team was able to break down the other. USA looked more threatening, earning a couple PCs, but were unable to convert. In the 33rd minute, Major deflected a shot past Logush to regain USA’s lead. The halftime score was 2-1, with all still to play for.
The second half started off with a lot of passing errors and neither team able to gain control of the match. USA settled down first and created a PC in the 39th minute. Hoffman’s flick went in off of Logush’s pads as the GK seemed to anticipate a wider shot. The goal seemed to take the fight out of Canada while energising the Americans to push to kill off the game. Paolino, Caro and Moyer found a lot of room to work, but Canada defended deep and with skill. Eventually the American pressure paid off when Caro’s shot was deflected past the GK by defender Dearmond for a 4-1 lead in the 56th minute. USA continued to push Canada back, with few clear chances. As the Canadians got tired mistakes crept into their defending and the Americans started to exploit gaps appearing behind the wingbacks. In the 66th minute Vittese got free in the circle and her shot went in to complete USA’s dominance over their North American rivals, who for the first 35 minutes of the game threatened to upset the distance in rankings between the teams. The final horn signalled the end of another convincing USA win, this time by a 5-1 score line.
Match 4 MEX vs TTO
The final match of the day featured the host nation Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) taking on Mexico. The hosts were still smarting from a hammering at the hands of USA in their first game while Mexico would have felt that they managed the score line better in their opening match loss to Canada. The winner of the match will be a step closer to avoiding a quarterfinal match against Argentina.
TTO made a bright start attempting to establish control by attacking down the right hand side. It was easily dealt with by Mexico. TTO continued to be the more aggressive earning a PC in the 2nd minute of the game. The injection was poor and Mexico cleared. TTO again attacking down the right got the ball into Dey who pushed it past Inguanzo for a goal to send the home crowd into a delighted roar. TTO earned a PC in the 9th minute and Abreu’s low flick went in under Inguanzo for a 2-0 lead. Mexico tried to get back into the game and Oviedo earned a PC after some good skill. TTO defence handled it well deflecting the shot over the goal. King then got a 1-on-1 with the Mexican GK who stood tall to prevent a goal. The resulting PC was well saved by Delgado on the line. In the 26th minute Whiteman turned over the ball at the top of her circle and it took a last ditch tackle from captain Brathwaite to prevent Garcia from scoring when a goal seemed likely. Inguanzo stopped another Abreu PC in the 31st minute. In the 33rd minute Oviedo stole the ball from Lee and passed to Estrada who looked dangerous until another intervention by Whiteman again prevented a Mexico goal. The horn sounded 2 minutes later sending the teams in at the break with TTO leading 2-0.
Mexico’s coach had words of inspiration for his team as they came out and for the next 12 minutes the game was played exclusively in the TTO half. Oviedo and Estrada looked dangerous and created a few shots that went wide and a series of PC opportunities. Rosainz had a strong flick saved by Escayg in goal for TTO. Finally, TTO settled and had a good attack end with a weak shot by Benjamin, easily saved by Inguanzo. Encouraged the TTO girls started to string passes together and King looked dangerous, but was well tackled by Delgado. King was sent through on a 1-on-1 against the GK, but Rosainz made a brave challenge to prevent the shot. In the 58th minute Abreu took a long corner restart 5 yards before passing to King in the circle. Her shot was blocked and the rebound went to Govia who settled herself before slotting her reverse stick shot into the goal to make the game more comfortable for TTO. Mexico tried again to get themselves into the game, but Whiteman, Lee and Shania de Freitas prevented them from entering the 25-yard area. In the 67th minute Martin earned TTO a PC and Abreu’s flick was deflected cheekily over Inguanzo’s dive by Saraah Olton to give TTO a 4-0 win. Three minutes later the horn sounded to complete a good bounce back victory for TTO.
