Argentina tops pool A and Canada tops pool B in Pan American Games Men

Canada vs. Mexico: 8-1 (ht: 2-0)

In the final men’s pool B match, Canada and Mexico played. Mexico’s Ricardo Garcia was honored for his 100^th cap before the match. The match started with Mexico on the attack and Bruno Peraza trying to take a shot on goal, but it was denied by Canada’s defense. Canada regained possession and Gabriel Ho-Garcia did a lot of quick dribbling in front of the goal and eventually got the ball past Mexico’s keeper Moises Vargas. Ho-Garcia’s goal in the 6^th minute made the score Canada 1, Mexico 0. Mexico went on the counter attack, but Alexis Campillo could not get a shot off before Canada came up with the ball. Canada went back on the attack and eventually Ho-Garcia again figured out how to get past Mexico’s frustrating defense in the 14^th minute to make the score Canada 2, Mexico 0 that remained the score at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with play immediately in Mexico’s attacking circle. Canada then went back on attack and Mexico continued to play strong defense that led to Mexico being able to generate play in their attacking half. In the 21^st minute, earned a penalty corner, but Canada’s keeper David Carter made the high glove save to block Francisco Aguilar’s high drag flick. Canada kept trying to attack, but Mexico kept forcing Canada to pass the ball amongst their defenders in the midfield. In the 27^th minute, Canada was able to penetrate their attacking circle, but Mexico forced play back to the midfield. Two minutes later, Canada was back on attack and Ho-Garcia had another hard shot on goal that was again blocked by Vargas. With Mexico forcing Canada to take a difficult shot in the final seconds of the second quarter the score remained Canada 2, Mexico 0 at halftime.

Canada started the third quarter with a bang as Matt Guest passed back and forth with Matthew Sarmento who finished the play that gave his team a three goal lead in the 31^st minute. Mexico then went on the counter attack and Campillo’s hard work on attack paid off with a penalty corner goal in the 36^th minute to put Mexico on the scoreboard; making the score Canada 3, Mexico 1. Canada rushed back on attack and Guest shot the ball past Vargas just as he was falling to the ground to make the score Canada 4, Mexico 1 in the 38^th minute. A minute later Canada earned their first penalty corner of the match, but the shot went wide. Canada then earned two more penalty corners, but Mexico prevented the first play from being executed and Vargas blocked the shot on the second. Mexico’s defense held Canada’s attackers outside the circle to keep the score at the end of the third quarter Canada 4, Mexico 1.

At the start of the fourth quarter Canada continued to pressure hard on attack and Sarmento scored his second goal of the match in the 47^th minute. Canada was relentless on attack and Ho-Garcia again had Vargas read with a tough shot in the 52^nd minute to make the score Canada 6, Mexico 1. Two minutes later, it was Ho-Garcia again with his fourth goal of the match to put Canada ahead of Mexico by seven goals. Canada’s attack was unstoppable with Paul Wharton then pushing the ball past Vargas in the 54^th minute to make the score Canada 8, Mexico 1. In the 58^th minute, Canada earned a penalty corner and the play resulted in a stroke. Froese barely got the stroke off that was easily stopped by Vargas. Thus, the final score remained Canada 8, Mexico 1 and Canada secured the top of Pool B.

Trinidad and Tobago vs. United States: 1-2 (ht: 1-2)

In the final pool A match, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States met. Both teams were looking for their first win. For the first five minutes of the match, both teams traded possession in the midfield in the 6^th minute, the United States broke through on attack to find Wll Holt waiting at the top of the circle. Holt’s hard shot past Trinidad and Tobago’s keeper Andrey Rocke to give his team the lead. The United States continued to pressure on attack and earned the first penalty corners of the match, but Rocke was there for the saves. Trinidad and Tobago then came back on attack and earned their first penalty corner of the match, but United States keeper Chris Rea saved the shot. The energy of the match picked up as the both teams continued to pressure on attack. Alex Grassi’s shot in the 13^th minute increased the United States lead to two goals. A minute later, it was Trinidad and Tobago’s Ishmeal Campbell scoring to cut into the United States lead. With either team unable to score again in the final two minutes of the first quarter, the score remained Trinidad and Tobago 1, United States 2.

The second quarter started with the United States pressuring on attack and earning a penalty corner, but the shot went wide. Both teams continued to battle for possession in the second quarter. Trinidad and Tobago increased their attacking pressure following two United States green cards, one to Moritz Runzi in the 20^th minute and one to Aki Kaeppeler in the 24^th minute. The United States, however, played strong defense to force Trinidad and Tobago to take difficult shots.  Then it was United States with the man advantage following a yellow card in the 28^th minute to Trinidad and Tobago’s Mickell Pierre. Despite the United States advantage, Trinidad and Tobago was back on attack, but Rea had an incredible stick save to preserve his team’s lead. In the 30^th minute, Trinidad and Tobago’s Aiden de Gannes received a yellow card. The score at halftime was still Trinidad and Tobago 1, United States 2.

With a yellow card to de Gannes, the United States pressured hard on attack to start the third quarter. The United States earned a penalty corner in the 35^th minute, but could not get the shot off. Pierre then had some good attacking opportunities denied by the United States defense. Both teams kept battling for possession and Trinidad and Tobago earned a penalty corner in the 43^rd minute. Rea saved the corner and with the United States defense holding off more Trinidad and Tobago attack the score remained Trinidad and Tobago 1, United States 2.

The fourth quarter was an intense battle for possession. In the 55^th minute, Trinidad and Tobago had two shots on goal go wide. In the final minute, Rea again came up big to save a couple more shots by Trinidad and Tobago to preserve the win for the United States. Thus, the final score was Trinidad and Tobago 1, United States 2 and the United States got their first tournament win.

Argentina vs. Cuba: 5-4 (ht: 3-1)

On the final day of men’s pool play, under bright sunny skies, the first match was between Argentina and Cuba. From the opening whistle, Argentina controlled the possession and went fast on attack. Argentina missed a penalty corner shot in the third minute. Cuba’s Alexander Abreu, Minel Prado and Yasmanny Gutierrez played incredibly strong defense to prevent Argentina from scoring in the first quarter of the match; including great recovery by Gutierrez to avoid an Argentina shot in the 15^th minute.

After a scoreless first quarter, Argentina continued to pressure on attack. In the 18^th minute, Cuba’s Marcos Martinez was sent off with a green card. Argentina immediately capitalized as Lucas Vila flicked in a shot making the score Argentina 1, Cuba 0. Cuba then countered on attack and earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 21^st minute. Yoandy Blanco’s drag flick tied the match 1-1. Both teams continued to battle for possession. Ten minutes later Argentina again took advantage of a green card this time to Cuba’s Adrian Molina. As a result Argentina earned a penalty corner and Peillat sent in his drag flick to give his team back the lead in the 28^th minute. A minute later, Argentina’s Joaquin Menini’s shot made the score Argentina 3, Cuba 1 that remained at the halftime break.

At the beginning of the third quarter it was Cuba starting fired up on the attack. Cuba earned a penalty corner in the first minute of the third quarter, but Argentina’s keeper Juan Vivaldi blocked Blanco’s flick. For the next five minutes, Argentina pressured on attack and in the 37^th minute Peillat converted the second of two penalty corners to increase his team’s lead by three goals. Cuba’s strong defense held off Argentina’s attack to keep the score Argentina 4, Cuba 1 at the end of the third quarter.

Argentina quickly earned penalty corners to start the fourth quarter. But immediately after Argentina failed to capitalize off their penalty corner Cuba was fast with the counter attack. Cuba’s Yoel Veitia ran fast on attack and his shot in the 47^th minute cut into Argentina’s lead to make the score Argentina 4, Cuba 2. Both teams continued to battle for possession, but Cuba kept up their attacking intensity. Cuba’s Roger Aguilera made the score Argentina 4, Cuba 3 in the 52^nd minute. Argentina came back fighting even more on attack and Peillat scored his third penalty corner of the match in the 55^th minute. In an exciting quarter, Veitia scored again two minutes later to make the score Argentina 5, Cuba 4. Vetia had another good shot in the 59^th, but it went high. Thus, the final result was Argentina 5, Cuba 4.

The competition continues with the crossover round on 21 July.  Please check back here for score updates, pictures, video interviews, and more throughout the competition.