All matches are being live-streamed. Please continue to also check the Pan American Hockey Federation’s website for the Women’s competition for photos and post-match interviews and more: http://www.panamhockey.org/en/competitions-54-2016-south-american-championships-women-
Uruguay-Peru (8-0)
The second match of the Women’s competition was between Uruguay and Peru. Uruguay took the lead less than one minute into the match off a goal by Maria Teresa Viana Ache. Uruguay continued to dominate possession and try to pressure on attack. Uruguay’s persistence paid off with the first penalty corner of the match in the 9th minute. The flick by Milagros Algorta sailed into net to give her team a two goal lead over host Peru. Two minutes later Uruguay was awarded another penalty corner. This time Sol Amadeo tipped in the initial shot by Algorta to make the score Uruguay 3, Peru 0 in the 12th minute. Malen Moccagatta, Maria Jose Fermi Blanco and Captain Claudia Ardiles played incredibly strong defense to keep Uruguay from scoring another quick goal and forced play into the midfield. For the next few minutes, Peru was able to have minutes of possession for the first time in the match, yet could not get past the Uruguay defense.
In the 18th minute, Uruguay was awarded another penalty corner, but the shot by Algorta went wide. Uruguay continued to pressure on attack and Manuela Vilar push from the far left side of the attacking circle into the right side of the goal gave Uruguay a four goal lead in the 22nd minute. Four minutes later, Uruguay’s Lucia Lamberti made it Uruguay 5, Peru 0 after Lamberti was able to rescue the ball in a scramble on the left post and shoot it past Peru’s keeper Chiara Conetta. Uruguay continued to pressure on attack, but Geraldine Quino and Fermi Blanco played strong defense together to keep Uruguay from scoring further in the first half.
The second half continued with Uruguay dominating on attack. Peru continued to play strong defense and Conetta blocked a Uruguay shot in the fourth minute. Soon after, Uruguay was awarded their first penalty corner of the second half, but the shot went wide. Minutes later, Uruguay was again unable to convert a penalty corner. Peru’s defense held off two more penalty corners by the 45th minute. Uruguay then substituted starting keeper Rosanna Paselle for Victoria Beares.
Peru prevented Uruguay from scoring off two more penalty corners, but Uruguay’s Camila Piazza finally broke through the tough Peru defense to make the score Uruguay 6, Peru 0 in the 50th minute. In the 52nd minute, Uruguay had another penalty corner and Vilar finally was able to convert a Uruguay penalty corner to put her team ahead by seven goals. Uruguay’s Janine Stanley was awarded a penalty stroke, but the shot went wide. In the 58th minute, Algorta scored her second goal of the match, this time a field goal, to make the score Uruguay 8, Peru 0. Peru’s first opportunity on attack came in the 61st minute when they had the ball in their attacking half, but Uruguay quickly regained possession. In the final minutes of the match, Peru’s Gretell Mejia and Camila Mendez fought hard on defense to push the ball into their attacking half, but again Uruguay quickly regained possession. Peru continued to play their incredibly strong defense to keep the final score Uruguay 8, Peru 0; and hold Uruguay to only three goals in the second half.
Brazil-Paraguay (0-0; SO: 6-5)
Day 1 of the South American Championship and Hockey World League Round 1 Women started with a match between Brazil and Paraguay. The matches during the tournament will be in two 35 minute halves. The tournament format is unique in that it follows a Round Robin format that means that no match can end in a tie. In the case of a tie at the end of regulation, the match will go into a shoot out. Two points are awarded to the team that wins the shoot out; and one point to the team that loses the shoot out.
Play started with both teams fighting for possession. Around 7 minutes into the match, Brazil was inside their attacking circle, but Tania Alfonso and Ivanna Romero Gehrmann played strong defense for Paraguay to keep Brazil from taking a shot. Lorena Alvarez ran fast on attack for Paraguay, but couldn’t get past the Brazilian defense. Paraguay kept trying to run attacking plays through Alvarez. About 15 minutes into the match, Brazil’s Mayara Fedrizzi had a fast attacking run down the pitch and passed to Wanda Olivares standing with a clear center shot to goal. Olivares’ shot was saved by Paraguay’s keeper Claudia Flores Guillen. Brazil soon earned the first penalty corner of the match, but Karolina Sluis’ shot went wide.
Brazil’s Eveline Beljon and Tatiana Noronhona Machado kept pressuring on attack on their right side of the pitch, but Paraguay’s Micaela Gomez and Tania Alfonso played strong defense. Both teams continued to fight for possession midfield and the crowd started to cheer loudly. Brazil’s Helena Betolaza had a strong run down the left side of the pitch into Brazil’s attacking circle. However, Paraguay recovered the ball quickly and earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 30th minute.
Paraguay’s Captain Olga Spiridonoff had two shots on goal, with one stopped by Brazil’s keeper Andrea Gomes to keep the match scoreless. Gomes soon came up with another save; and Brazil tried to go back on attack. Paraguay battled back and earned another penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Nicole van Jaarsveld’s shot bounced around the Brazilian defenders and lead to another penalty corner. Van Jaarsveld took the shot again, but this time Gomes came up for the save. Thus, the first half between Brazil and Paraguay ended scoreless.
The first action of the second half between Brazil and Paraguay was a penalty corner by Brazil in the 39th minute. Brazil passed around to Betolaza whose shot from the far right side of the circle was saved by Flores Guillen. Play continued to be in Brazil’s attacking half. In the 44th minute, feisty attack by Paraguay’s Carolina Cacace Vely led to a penalty corner. Van Jaarsveld passed to Alvarez waiting on the post, but Gomes was there for the save. Paraguay continued to pressure on attack, but Brazil’s defense maintained good positioning to prevent Paraguay from taking shots inside their attacking circle.
Brazil earned another penalty corner in the 52nd minute. Brazil could not complete the penalty corner play, but maintained possession in the midfield. In the 58th minute, Brazil earned another penalty corner, but again could not complete the play. Brazil’s Sluis was then given a green card. Paraguay looked to take advantage on attack. With less than five minutes remaining in the match, Flores Guillen came far out of goal to hold off Brazil’s attack and keep the match tied 0-0. Brazil earned another penalty corner in the 67th minute, but Paraguay played strong defense to keep Brazil from taking a penalty corner shot. With the match ending in a 0-0 tie, the match proceeded to a shoot out.
Paraguay’s Spiridonoff went first and her shot went wide. Beljon then went for Brazil and her shot trickled past the stick of the keeper. Paraguay’s Cacace Vely then worked the ball around the keeper Andrea Gomes for the score. Brazil’s Noronha Machado’s shot went high past Flores Guillen’s arm into goal. María Catebra Martinez then went for Paraguay and got the ball under the Gomes’ stick. Flores Guillen then forced Brazil’s Sluis to hit the post. Paraguay’s Ivanna Romero Gehrmann then hit in a hard shot into goal. The shot by Brazil’s Helena Betolaza led to a penalty stroke that Sluis converted. Van Jaarsveld went for Paraguay, but shot after the 8 seconds was up. The shot by Brazil’s Fedrizzi went over the end line.
Following the draw in the shoot out, the match went into a sudden death shoot out round. Noronha Machado also put in her second shot; and then Cacace Vely also scored again for Paraguay. Betolaza for Brazil did not get a shot off before the 8 seconds. And then Catebra Martinez’s shot for Paraguay went wide. Beljon put in a hard shot for Brazil. And then Romero Gehrmann for Paraguay countered with her shot. Sluis’ shot was blocked by Flores Guilen. And then van Jaarsveld had her shot blocked by keeper Gomes. The second shot by Brazil’s Fedrizzi went in; and then Paraguay’s Captain Spiridonoff missed. As a result, nearly 20 minutes later Brazil came up with the first win of the tournament.
The Women’s Competition will continue on the 2nd of October. Please continue to also check the Pan American Hockey Federation’s website for the Women’s competition for photos and post-match interviews and more: http://www.panamhockey.org/en/competitions-54-2016-south-american-championships-women-
