Thurs far into the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship (Women) Argentina and Chile are atop Pools A and B, respectively. Coming off another shutout victory against Canada (CAN 0-6 ARG), Argentina has a firm grasp by goal difference on the top of Pool A. Argentina’s María Del Pilar RomanG scored two field goals in the first half of the match to give Argentina a four goal lead over Canada at halftime. One minute into the second half Florencia Zapulla made it five-nill. While Canada played clean defense and prevented Argentina from earning many penalty corners, Canada could not maintain possession long enough to generate much attack. Unable to convert a penalty corner in the final minute of the match the score remained 6-nill and Canada is currently in third place in Pool A. Also with a 6-nill victory in Pool A, Uruguay moved into second place in Pool A with its win over Brazil. Back-to-back field goals in the 11th and 12th minutes by Lucia Laborde and Victoria Beares helped give Uruguay a 3-nill lead at halftime. In the 42nd minute, Laborde scored a penalty stroke to make it 4-nill. Brazil used all its field players back on defense, but ultimately lost by six goals to Uruguay. Host Mexico also earned a win against Brazil thus earning their first tournament victory. Between Brazil and Mexico, in the first half both teams battled for possession and Brazil’s strong defensive efforts prevented Mexico from scoring off a number of penalty corners. Thus, the match remained scoreless at halftime. Two minutes into the second half Mexico’s Captain Jessica Sanchez Revilla put in a field goal that was both Mexico’s first tournament goal and lead. Mexico dominated on attack in the second half; and Jazel Arlet Salazar Miranda and Aleexis Morales Vazquez also scored for Mexico. With Brazil unable to capitalize off a couple penalty corners, Mexico earned the three-nill victory.
Day 6 of the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship was a battle between Chile and the United States, respectively for the top spot in Pool B. As expected the match between Chile and the United States was a battle. In the first half, the United States had more possession and attacking opportunities than Chile, including penalty corners. With both teams playing strong defense, the match was still scoreless at halftime. In the second half, it was Chile with the attacking advantage. In the 41st minute Chile took the 1-0 lead off a penalty corner by Manuela Urroz. The United States continued to battle and again earned a number of penalty corners. Finally, in the 60th minute, Kelsey Harbin tied the match for the United States. Chile went right back on attack and a field goal by Urroz gave Chile the 2-1 lead with eight minutes remaining. The United States inserted a kicking back, but was unable to break through Chile’s pressure defense and Chile secured the top spot in Pool B with the 2-1 win. Chile’s Manuela Urroz is currently atop the goal scorer list of the 2012 Junior Pan American Championship (Women) with eight goals to date.
Previously, both teams had big victories over their opponents. Chile won 11-1 over Venezuela; but the score was only 3-1 at the halftime due to a great defensive effort by Venezuela and a goal by Stephanie Gonzalez. In the second half, however, Venezuela could not withstand Chile’s recharged attack. By the 43rd minute, Chile had scored three more goals to make it a 6-1 score; and went on to score five more goals in about the final ten minutes of the match. Josefina Khamis had a hat trick; and Maria Jose Mackenna and Manuela Urroz each scored two goals. Khamis, Mackenna, and Urroz continue to stay amongst the top tournament goal scorers. The United States’ won 9-1 over Trinidad & Tobago. Behind two goals by Maxine Fluharty, it was a 4-1 score at halftime (the Trinidad & Tobago goal off a penalty corner by Danna De Gannes). Like Chile, the United States’ attack came out fired up after the halftime break and midway through the second half, thanks to a Heather Morris hat-trick, the United States had scored five more goals to go ahead 9-1. In other Pool B action, Jamaica and Paraguay squared off with both looking for their first tournament win. Both teams battled for possession in the first half and the match remained scoreless at halftime. Finally in the 50th minute, a goal was scored and Jamaica went ahead in the 50th minute off a penalty corner shot by Trudy-Ann Knight. It was also Jamaica’s first goal of the tournament. Jamaica continued to pressure on attack, but Paraguay played strong defense. In the final minute, however, Jamaica sealed a two-nill victory off a goal by Captain Demi Nicholson. On Day 6, Jamaica and Venezuela met. Venezuela scored first off a field goal by Stephanie Gonzalez in the 5th minute. Throughout the half, possession was mostly even between the two teams, with Venezuela having a slight attacking advantage. Venezuela made it 2-nill in the 21st minute off a penalty corner by Esther Padrón. In the final minute, Venezuela’s Patricia Mujica made it 3-nill for the halftime score. Venezuela dominated more in the second half, but the Jamaica defense prevented another Venezuela score until Johandri Sánchez scored off a penalty corner with two minutes remaining. Thus, the Venezuelan women earned another tournament win with their 4-nill victory over Jamaica.
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