Day 3
Day 3 of CAC Games action saw all the Day 1 teams that lost play each other to stay in the competition. JAM vs GUA and CUB vs GUY all playing for a chance to still play in the semi-finals. TTO vs BAR and DOM vs MEX played to consolidate their place in the semifinals.
Match 1 Pool B – Jamaica (JAM) vs. Guatemala (GUA)
JAM started the more aggressive of the two teams and the match settled into a pattern of play where GUA defended just outside of their circle looking for counterattacking opportunities. Kamille GRIFFITHS looked dangerous in attack, earning many PCs for her team. They were unable to convert any and the score remained 0-0 through both the first and second quarters.
The third quarter of the match started just like the first two, JAM pushing GUA back. This time Demi NICHOLSON was able to slap home a rebound to give JAM a well earned lead. Encouraged by the goal they quickly added a FG and another PC, both scored by Shareeka ELLIOTT. Q3 ended with JAM leading 3-0. Energised by their lead and more composed in attack JAM looked likely to score every time they entered the circle and it was only determined defending from GUA that denied them. JAM eventually broke their resistance twice from a FG and a PC to complete a comfortable 5-0 win. The final horn sounded with a quick celebratory dance on a deserved victory.
Match 2 Pool B – Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) vs. Barbados (BAR)
Two of the biggest rivals in the English-speaking Caribbean featured in the second match of the day. TTO dominated possession and position, but BAR defended well and eventually started pushing their opponents back. The two teams cancelled each other’s attacks early and Q1 ended 0-0. Q2 quickly sprang to life with a spectacular volley from Keisha BOYCE giving BAR the lead. TTO pressed forward earning themselves a PS which Shania DE FREITAS calmly scored. The game continued to be mainly a midfield battle and the score at the end of Q2 remained 1-1.
TTO dominated Q3, pushing BAR back into their 23-metre area but were unable to create any clear chances. BAR looked for counterattacks but found Teresa LEZAMA and the TTO defence difficult to break down. As in Q1 and Q2 the teams cancelled each other out and Q3 ended with the scores still tied at 1-1. Q4 got going with TTO increasingly taking control of the game with all of the play in the BAR half of the field. Though their dominance did not turn into clear cut opportunities, TTO ensured that BAR could not push forward with their counterattacks. Eventually TTO did get some space behind the BAR defence and Brittney HING did well to earn a PS that DE FREITAS coolly scored. BAR made a final push in the last minute to get an equaliser, but the TTO defence held firm to preserve a hard fought 2-1 win over their Caribbean rivals.
Match 3 Pool A – Cuba (CUB) vs. Guyana (GUY)
Match 3 saw two of the losing teams from Day 1 try to get themselves back into the competition. CUB put GUY on the defensive early, but Alysa XAVIER kept the scores goalless. CUB earned a few PCs, but again found the GUY defence difficult to get past. GUY were able to relieve some of the pressure with a few attacks that were easily dealt with by the CUB defence. Q1 ended as the game started at 0-0. CUB picked up the pace in Q2, but found an organised GUY defence difficult to break down. CUB earned a few PCs, but again failed to get past XAVIER. When they did eventually get past her, she was backed up by her defenders to keep the game scoreless. GUY again started a few promising attacks, but could not produce the quality to create a chance. The end of Q2 came with the score 0-0.
CUB started Q3 searching for that elusive goal, while GUY continued to try and play for the counter attack. CUB earned a PC and finally scored with a Yunia MILANES shot that trickled over the line. CUB immediately went looking to score more and created many opportunities but they could not find the target. XAVIER, aided by Ulrica SUTHERLAND continued to play well and at the end of Q3 the score was 1-0 CUB. With a chance for the semi-final still to play for both teams came out quickly in Q4 looking for goals. CUB’s quality started to show and Sunaylis NIKLE doubled the score with a FG. CUB continued to create chances but could not add any more goals. GUY made one more big effort to score, but they found the CUB defence as strong as ever. The final horn sounded with the score CUB 2-0 GUY.
Match 4 Pool A – Dominican Republic (DOM) vs. Mexico (MEX)
Our final match of the day saw DOM and MEX battle for a top spot in Pool A. After a cautious start DOM began to gradually dominate play. The teams did a good job of cancelling each other out and Q1 ended at 0-0. Q2 was also quite intense without many quality chances with a green card for each team demonstrating the physical nature of the game. At the halftime horn the scores remained 0-0.
DOM started Q3 looking dangerous earning a couple PCs, but failed to get any shots off. MEX enjoyed their best attacking phase of the game with Marlet CORREA and Fernanda OVIEDO looking dangerous on the left. It was a right side attack that led to a PC that Michel NAVARRO hit past the left foot of Paola DE LA CRUZ in the DOM goal. Q3 ended with the score 1-0 to MEX. Q4 was the most open of the game as DOM pressed to get an equaliser while MEX played on the counterattack. Neither team was able to score and the final horn ended in a MEX win.
Tomorrow the men get back into action with GUA vs. DOM, GUY vs. MEX, CUB vs. JAM and BAR vs. TTO. Like the women today, the matches will feature round 1 losers and winners with no team certain of a semi-final place.
