In the lower tier, Chile were pushed all the way to shoot-outs by a valiant Italian team that were the good surprise of the competition, while the USA left the wooden spoon to Trinidad & Tobago after a high scoring match (5-3).
Individual Awards:
- Top Goal-scorer: Pat Harris, USA, 7 goals
- Player of the Tournament: Shane O'Donoghue, Ireland
- Goal-keeper of the Tournament: David Harte, Ireland
- Best Junior Player of the Tournament: Francesco Padovani, Italy
Final - Ireland vs. Austria: 2-1 (ht: 1-1)
The Final was the cherry on the cake for two teams having already qualified for the next round of the World League. The weather was perfect for hockey, sunny with a cool breeze, and Ireland were fast in action, Michael Darling scoring in the second minute of play after a run on the left and an energetic circle penetration. Austria were not to be outdone and scored on their first penalty-corner by Michael Körper in the 4th minute.
The offensive tone of the match was set and play was flowing back and forth at high speed, both teams displaying their skills and organization. The show was entertaining but with no further goal in the opening quarter. Both teams (and coaches) seemed to enjoy playing with less pressure than earlier in the competition. Tempo (and tempters) increased later in the period, but no more goals were scored and teams walked in the half-time break back-to-back (1-1).
Play was certainly balanced but Ireland took a slight advantage in the 35th minute when Shane O'Donoghue slotted a low penalty-corner in goal. Austria were quick to reply but David Harte stood tall in the Irish goal, first on a high penalty-corner flick then on the subsequent messy action in front of him. Ireland were progressively tightening the screw on the opposition and play was confined for long sequences in Austrian defensive territory.
Somehow, surprisingly for a match with not much at stake, tempters flared and Austria played two-men short for a while on a green and a yellow card. Ireland could however not capitalize and score stayed at 2-1 at the end of the third quarter. Ireland had a chance on a penalty-corner early in the last quarter but their triple layoff did not pay. They were however dominating the proceedings, making the Austrians run after their passes.
Austria had a last ditch effort with a penalty-corner with three minutes to go, but Michael Körper’s shot by countered by a running defender. Körper picked up a yellow card on the next action and Ireland immediately earned a penalty-corner. They tried again a fancy option, to no avail, but time was running out and the Irish were soon celebrating winning this competition, while both teams were of course satisfied to have reached their goal of qualifying for the semi-finals of the World League.
3rd-4th place - Canada vs. Russia: 4-1 (ht: 2-0)
Match for 3rd place was certainly the most important of the day, as the teams would not only compete for final ranking in the competition but mainly to grab the last berth on offer for the semi-finals of the World League.
Before the match, Canadian Adam Froese was honored for his 100th International Cap.
Both teams were nervous in the opening stages, careful not to expose themselves. Russia managed to penetrate a couple times the Canadian defense with aerial balls finding high forwards, but Dave Carter was steady in goal. Russia won a penalty-corner in the 8th minute, well defended by the Canadians.
The Russians were certainly more in the match than the Canadians in this opening quarter, creating many dangerous situations around the circle. However, it was the North Americans who scored first (by Mark Pearson), somewhat against the run of play on one of their incursions in Russian territory.
Canada had two penalty-corners in the opening minute of second quarter but Scott Tupper’s flicks were saved on the line. Gabriel Ho-Garcia however scored on the following action and the Canadian fans in the stands started to breathe easier. The Russians reacted well and forced a penalty-corner, but to no avail. They were the ones nervous now, and received a green and a yellow card, giving away another penalty-corner to Canada, but Marat Gafarov in the Russian goal saved for the fourth time Tupper’s low flick.
It was not a day for the penalty-corner specialists as Russia missed another opportunity to a fast running defender, and half-time was reached with the tenuous but precious two-goal lead for Canada.
Play was locked in midfield for a while at the beginning of second half, then suddenly opened up. Russia had a chance on a cross that rolled tantalizingly in front of the empty net before been cleared, then David Carter in the Canadian goal stood tall on a violent shot from close range,
but the Russians received a yellow card to follow and the Canadians had some breathing room for a while. They took advantage to score their third goal by Iain Smythe, building a more comfortable cushion at the end of third quarter.
The Canadians knew that the fourth quarter would be hard, with the Russians throwing at them everything they had left, but they maintained their structure and composure in front of the intense pressure. Russia hit the post on a penalty-corner in the 50th minute and, with time ticking down on the clock, too slow for the Canadians but too fast for the Russians, tension became palpable on the pitch and on the team benches.
Just when it seemed that the Canadians were starting to run out of steam, Taylor Curran added a fourth goal for what looked like an unsurmountable lead. Canada had to play the final minutes short on a yellow card and Russia pulled one goal back by Igor Siniagin with three minutes to go, but it was too little too late and the Canadians were soon celebrating the win and their tickets for the semi-finals of the World League.
5th-6th place - Italy vs. Chile: 1-1 (ht: 1-1 + shoot-outs: 0-3)
The match was revenge from pool play when Italy surprised Chile (2-1). The Italians had already achieved an excellent tournament, but seemed keen to do even better and boldly controlled the initial phases of the match, playing some positive hockey around the Chilean circle. Alfredo Mella, in goal for Chile in this match, was under pressure but kept his team in the game, giving them time to settle down and organize.
In the Californian sun cooled down by a pleasant breeze, the match was entertaining, with chances at both ends. First penalty-corner of the match was for Chile after a rare incursion in the Italian defensive territory, but it was well defended by Francesco Padovani, in fine form during this whole competition.
The match continued animated in second period, and Italy earned a penalty-corner after a long run by Agustin Nunez on the right wing. Chile, already short on a green card, lost a defender too eager to run, and Thomas Keenan scored in the 35th minute the long awaited goal, celebrated by the Italian fans in surprising number on the sideline. This certainly boosted the Chileans and they immediately forced a penalty-corner of their own and Nicolas Renz made no mistake to slot the ball high in goal to level the score.
Both teams were alternating aerial balls and long rushes and play was swinging wildly from one end to the other. Tempters were also starting to heat up and umpires needed to stop play to cool down the players. The two teams were still deadlocked at the end of third quarter, with the feeling that the result could swing for the team better able to maintain composure.
Everybody was eager to make the difference before the dreaded shoot-out competition. Chile had the best chance to score but Francesco Padovani saved his team once again. With yellow cards raining left and right in the final minutes of the match, no more goals were scored and the matter had to be settled in a shoot-out competition.
One Italian shooter hit the crossbar and two shot wide, giving the fifth place to Chile. Italy can however be very satisfied by their performance in this competition: not only were they competitive in every game (their initial team goal) but they finished two notches above their entry ranking.
7th-8th place - Trinidad & Tobago vs. USA: 3-5 (ht: 0-2)
The two teams last met in an official competition for the bronze medal of the 2013 Pan American Cup, with a happy ending for the Trinidadians who conquered their first ever Pan American medals.
USA were quick in action in the early morning coolness and controlled the initial stages of the match. They were rewarded for their hard work in the 12th minute when Tyler Sundeen managed to beat Ron Alexander for the only goal of first quarter. The Americans doubled their tally in the 17th minute after a long ball found Christian Linney alone at the top of the circle for a clinical reverse stick finish.
Kwan Browne tried to inject some speed in the Caribbean attacks but the Americans were canvassing the pitch tightly and fighting for every ball, so the Trinidadians could not find a way through and the half-time break was reached with the 2-goal advantage for the Americans.
Both teams built up chances in third quarter but the spectators had to wait for the 41st minute to see another goal, when Akim Toussaint turned his defender and slotted a powerful reverse shot out of reach of Christopher Rea in the American goal to reduce the gap to one goal. This boosted the USA and they replied just before the end of the quarter by Pat Harris, well positioned to tap in a perfect cross by William Holt.
Trinidad & Tobago had a chance on a penalty-corner early in fourth quarter but Browne’s flick was deflected wide. They were more successful in the 54th minute when Shaquille Daniel deflected their next penalty-corner just in front of the goal-keeper to reduce once again the gap to one unit. It did not last long, as Pat Harris scored his second goal of the match on the next action!
The seesaw continued when Shaquille Daniel deflecting again a penalty-corner. Trinidad & Tobago pushed desperately in the final minutes, but depleted their defense and Pat Harris completed his hat-trick in the final minute of play for a 5-3 American win.
The home team USA took the 7th spot of their event, leaving the wooden spoon to Trinidad & Tobago, both teams finishing one level lower than their entry ranking.
Final Standings:
1) Ireland Qualified for World League semi-finals
2) Austria Qualified for World League semi-finals
3) Canada Qualified for World League semi-finals
4) Russia
5) Chile
6) Italy
7) USA
8) Trinidad & Tobago
