This country’s junior hockey women team set up a meeting with Uruguay for fifth spot tomorrow from 11.30am after beating neighbours Barbados 3-1 in their fifth to eight spot semifinal play-off in the Junior (Under-21) Women’s Pan American Hockey Championship at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua, yesterday.
Following a 5-0 loss to Chile in their quarterfinal on Tuesday, the Kayla Brathwaite-led junior Calypso Stickwomen were eager to make amends against the Barbadians after their hopes of appearing in a second ever FIH Junior World Cup were dashed in the Chile loss.
And they got the perfect start when defender Savannah De Freitas converted a penalty-corner set play initiated by her younger sibling Shania De Freitas as early as the second minute to the delight of the local supporters who had brave the hot and humid weather conditions to cheer on their team.
With little emphasis on defence at both ends of the field, T&T had a golden chance to double its lead on a fast break through USA-based Brianna Govia, but she hesitated with her effort from less than ten yards out from out, and in the end dragged it wide of the mark.
Barbados then began to put some pressure on the T&T back-line marshalled by another USA-based player Stephanie Whiteman, but despite creating a few chances from penalty-corners the visitors failed to make T&T pay.
However, Barbados eventually drew level in the 17th minute via an Ayana Wilson field goal, after which both teams failed to add to their tally before the half-time whistle as the heat started to take its toll on the players.
Twelve minutes after the restart, another of T&T’s USA-based contingent Kristin Abreu regained the lead for the locals with a penalty conversion and in the 56th, Govia finally made amends for her earlier missed effort, after which the Brian Garcia-coached young women held on for the win.
Earlier on, Uruguay got the better of Mexico, 3-1 on penalty stroke shoot-out after a 0-0 deadlock at the end of the 70-minute contest.
Six-time champion Argentina is yet to concede a goal after crushing Canada 9-0 in their main draw semis and will face USA in Sunday’s gold medal match from 4pm after the Americans dumped Chile 5-0 in their main draw semifinal. Both finalist will also be fighting for a place at the World Cup in Chile, from November 26 to December 4.