Match 1 Pool A – Mexico (MEX) vs. Cuba (CUB)
Our first match saw tournament #1 Mexico taking on Cuba. Cuba got off to the stronger start, using a lot of long hits to push their opponents deep. Mexico used aerial passes to relieve the pressure and mount a series of attacks. Both teams earned penalty corners, but none of them produced any goals. This pattern continued over the first two corners. The third quarter continued the trend of Cuba starting off strong while Mexico gradually fighting back. The Mexican persistence paid off with a penalty stroke, but Yusnaidy BETANCOURT produced a spectacular stick save to keep the scores 0-0. BETANCOURT was unable to keep out two outstanding goals from Arlette ESTRADA, the first at the end of Q3 and the second against a tiring Cuban defence 3 minutes from full time. The final meaningful piece of action saw Michel NAVARRO score to give Mexico a convincing 3-0 win to start the tournament.
Match 2 Pool A – Dominican Republic (DOM) vs. Guyana (GUY)
Our second match of the day saw the Dominican Republic play Guyana. For the second game in a row both teams dealt with tricky field by using longer passes. DOM took control quickly, pushing GUY right back into their defensive 23 metre area. Alysa XAVIER in goal stood strong, making many important saves to keep the score 0-0 at the end of the first two quarters. The start of the third quarter continued as the previous two, but this time DOM managed to score two with Marian GONZALEZ and Cecilia OFLAHERTI. With GUY starting to slow in the fourth quarter DOM continued to press for more, missing a penalty stroke before Ana WILLIAMS and Augustina BIROCHO finished the scoring to finish round 1 action in Pool A on top.
Match 3 Pool B – Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) vs. Guatemala (GUA)
Our third match of the day saw Pool B off with TTO taking on Guatemala. As with the other matches we saw the long ball preferred to careful build up play. TTO pressed GUA and from the turnover scored in the 1st minute of the game. They continued to pressure GUA and they were rewarded with two more PC goals before the end of Q1. Q2 started as Q1 ended but Norma QUEVEDO made some good saves to keep out the TTO attacks. Eventually TTO scored another FG to take a 4-0 lead at the end of Q2. TTO started Q3 in complete control scoring three inside the first 2 minutes before adding another two to end the quarter a commanding 9-0 in front. GUA continued to defend deep, keeping the TTO attacks out. Eventually they conceded a PS which Shania DE FREITAS scored to take the TTO score to double figures. Gabrielle THOMPSON and DE FREITAS scored again to take the final score to 12-0.
Match 4 Pool B – Barbados (BAR) vs. Jamaica (JAM)
Our final match of the day was a battle of Caribbean rivals. After a cautious start the tempo of the game picked up and with it the number of fouls committed by both teams. BAR had the territorial advantage by the end of Q1 but could not create any clear opportunities. Q2 continues as the first ended, but slowly JAM started creating counter attacks of their own. Neither team, though was able to force even a save from their opposing keepers and the half time horn came with both teams still tied at 0-0. Q3 saw BAR continue to push JAM back deep into their half, but only had one shot on goal to show for their effort. Finally a Nakira DOWNES PC was fumbled into the goal by JAM GK Lorie-Ann McINTOSH. The quarter finished with BAR leading 1-0. Q4 was easily the most dominant for JAM as they earned a series of PCs that they failed to score. BAR defended well and played on the counter attack to earn a hard fought 1-0 victory as the horn signalled the end of the match and the day’s play.
Tomorrow the men start their Pool matches with TTO vs. CUB, BAR vs. JAM, GUY vs. DOM and MEX vs. GUA.
