Canada’s men’s field hockey team booked their ticket to the semifinals on Jul. 21 after a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the last men’s quarter-final match-up of the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Iain Smythe, Matthew Sarmento and Scott Tupper each potted a goal for the home team that will play Brazil in the next round. No. 37-ranked Brazil ousted a fiery USA team 3-1 in shootouts in an inspirational win that qualified them for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Canada, 15th in the world rankings, came out of the gate with a decisive offensive push. In the third minute a quick turn-and-fire from Devohn Norohna-Texeira earned the home side their first penalty corner. Despite a miss trap at the top of the battery Canada was able to find Brenden Bissett on the baseline who slotted it across the Trinidad and Tobago goal mouth. Smythe was there to knock it in from close range and lift the home side up 1-0 early on. Play resumed mostly between the 23 meter lines until Trinidad and Tobago forward Dillet Gilkes was fouled hard outside the Canadian circle. The ensuing penalty corner shot by Solomon Eccles was saved at the far post by the stick of Tupper.

Despite a slow start to the second quarter for both teams, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago had equal opportunity to get on the board. In the 24^th minute Canada had back-to-back penalty corners, the latter of which captain Tupper flicked high right of the goal. Moments later Mickell Pierre earned the same set-piece chances for the Trinidadians but Canadian keeper Dave Carter and first runner Sarmento were up to the task. Possession favored Canada but unforced errors in their offensive half allowed small momentum swings for Trinidad and Tobago.

Just before half time Sarmento connected at the far post on a hard ball in, beating keeper Andrey Rocke for Canada’s second goal and a 2-0 lead entering the break.

A scoreless third quarter was played mostly in the middle of the pitch. Again, possession tilted in favor of the home team but a lack of finish and some quality challenges from Rocke denied Canada a third goal. In the other end, Trinidad and Tobago had some promising runs from Christopher Scipio and Eccles but Canadian defenders Adam Froese and Tupper did well to deny any chance of a shot on their keeper Carter.

After two quarters of a blank sheet captain Tupper finally got Canada up 3-0. The skipper not only created the penalty corner chance but also finished it on a low flick that beat Rocke glove side. Quickly off the push-back Trinidad and Tobago found themselves in the other end with a flurry of shots generated by Kiel Murray. Carter showed his experience closing down all three chances.

With three minutes to go Trinidad and Tobago pulled Rocke to push for a consolation goal with the extra field player but they were unable to capitalize and Canada sealed a spot in the semis with a 3-0 win. Carter earned his second shutout of the tournament, while forward Matthew Guest celebrated playing his 100^th international on home soil.