Day 2 of Women's Pan American Cup finished.

Day 2 of the Women’s Pan American Cup has concluded. Currently in Pool A, Argentina has two wins and in Pool B, the United States has two wins. In the final match on Day 2 of the Women’s Pan American Cup Canada and Argentina played. The match started with both teams fighting for possession and play mostly in the midfield. In the 10^th minute, Argentina earned the first penalty corner of the match. Argentina’s penalty corner shot went wide to keeping the match scoreless. Canada defended well a couple more Argentina penalty corners. In the 16^th minute, Captain Luciana Aymar made it CAN 0-1 ARG. Then four minutes later, Carla Rebecchi gave Argentina a two goal lead over Canada. Canada continued to play really strong defense keeping Argentina from scoring. Argentina was awarded a penalty corner in the 32^nd minute, but that was also well blocked. Yet, Argentina’s Agustina Albertarrio gathered the ball and put Argentina ahead 3-0 right before half time. The score remained Canada 0, Argentina 3 at halftime.

The second half also began with Argentina pressuring on attack. However, Canada continued playing strong defense to keep Argentina mostly outside their attacking circle. Argentina persisted and went ahead 4-0 over Canada off an another Rebecchi field goal in the 46^th minute. Canada’s defense kept at Argentina and blocked a penalty corner shot in the 53^rd minute. Five minutes later Canada stopped another Argentina penalty corner. Argentina’s Noel Barrionuevo put in a penalty stroke in the 59^th minute to give her team a five goal lead. Barely one minute later, Barrionuevo scored another penalty stroke to making it 6-0 against Canada. Canada’s defense continued to play well and prevented Argentina from scoring again in the match. Thus, the final score ended Argentina 6, Canada 0.

In the first Pool A match on Day 2 of the Women’s Pan American Cup, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana played. Both teams had attacking opportunities in the opening minutes, but Trinidad & Tobago earned the first penalty corner of the match. Trinidad & Tobago’s took a hard shot from the top of the circle that was deflected by Guyana into the goal to give Trinidad & Tobago an early 1-0 lead. Trinidad & Tobago continued to attack, but Guyana’s keeper Alysa Xavier made a good save to prevent another penalty corner goal by Trinidad & Tobago. Play continued in Trinidad & Tobago’s attacking half of the pitch for most of the first half. Guyana earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 22^nd minute after they had a breakaway in their attacking end. Guyana soon earned another penalty corner, but the shot was blocked. Trinidad & Tobago went back on attack and earned two penalty corners in the final five minutes of the match. Again, Xavier performed big for Guyana to keep Trinidad & Tobago from scoring again.

The second half started like the first half, with Trinidad & Tobago earning a penalty corner in the opening minutes. Again, Guyana’s defense prevented Trinidad & Tobago from scoring. Guyana’s defense kept playing really well to keep Trinidad & Tobago from taking too many shots on goal. Throughout the second half, Trinidad & Tobago dominated possession and kept play in their attacking area. Again, Guyana’s defense prevented Trinidad & Tobago from scoring off penalty corners late in the second half. Trinidad & Tobago continued to pressure on attack, but were unable to get past the Guyana defense for the rest of the match. Thus, Trinidad & Tobago came away with the 1-0 win over Guyana.

In the second match of Day 2 of the Women’s Pan American Cup Mexico and Uruguay played. Uruguay got off to a fast start earning a penalty corner in the first minute of the match. Uruguay kept up the attacking pressure and earned two more corner also blocked by Mexico’s defense. After a couple more penalty corners, Urguay’s Manuela Villa Del Valle lifted in a goal to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead over Mexico. Uruguay’s Janine Stanley quickly made it 2-0. Mexico held strong defensively and prevented Uruguay from getting into their attacking circle. Mercedes Coates put Uruguay ahead 3-0 in the 29^th minute. The halftime score remained 3-0 in favor of Uruguay. In the second half, Uruguay continued to dominate possession on offense. Mexico earned a penalty corner, but could not convert. In the second half, Mexico prevented Uruguay from having many attacking opportunities. Mexico, however, was unable to gain possession long enough to get into their attacking end. Uruguay scored their first goal of the second half following a nice two-against-one that Captain Anastasia Olave put in to make the score 4-0 at the very end of the match. Thus, the final score was Uruguay 4-Mexico 0.

Finally, day two of the Women’s Pan American Cup started with a Pool B match between Chile and the United States. The United States pressured early and was awarded a penalty corner, but the shot was saved by Chile’s defense. Chile immediately countered on attack and Manuela Urroz’s field goal in the 8^th minute. The United States’ immediately tied the match 1-1 off a Kathleen Sharkey field goal. The United States continued to pressure on attack. And were awarded a couple of penalty corners that were defended well by Chile, including a save by keeper Claudia Schuler. The United States went ahead 2-1 off a shot by Michelle Kasold who pushed the ball in a crowded net. Bothe teams then battled for possession in the midfield for the rest of the half. Thus, the score remained USA 2-1 Chile at halftime. The second half started like the first one ended, the teams continued the fight for possession in the midfield. However, Melissa Gonzalez put the US ahead 3-1 over Chile. The United States was soon awarded a penalty corner and Captain Lauren Crandall pushed in the shot from the right side, making it a 4-1 score. The United States maintained their attacking pressure for most of the second half. A hard shot from the top of the circle by Paige Selenski made the score 5-1 in favor of the United States. With either team unable to score again, the match ended 5-1.

The Women’s Pan American Cup will continue on Tuesday September 24^th. Please stay tuned to www.panamhockey.org for live updates, videos, photos, and more.