Trinidad & Tobago battled for its first ever victory against Canada (3-2) to earn a semi-final berth, where they will meet the USA, while Argentina cruised to an easy win over Bermuda (25-0) before playing against South American rivals Chile in semi-final.
Trinidad & Tobago - Canada: 3-2
Trinidad & Tobago pulled off the historical win and qualified for the Pan American Cup Semi-Finals with a 3-2 triumph over Canada.
At the first whistle, Trinidad & Tobago pressured Canada and forced a penalty corner. Although it was not converted, it set the tone as Trinidad & Tobago kept chasing every pass. Minutes after, Krizia Layne intercepted a pass at the top of the semi-circle and gave teammate Stacy Sui Butt the easy tap in for a 1-0 lead to Trinidad & Tobago in the 7th minute. The game settled down, with both teams creating opportunities. Canada enjoyed more ball possession and got several penalty corners which were squandered. Trinidad & Tobago made them paid with another Sui Butt-Layne combination, with Layne having the last touch for a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute.
In the second half, Trinidad & Tobago's Curlyne Wynn and Nicole Aming played solid defense, but Canada would not be kept at bay. Canada converted a penalty corner in the 45th minutes to narrow the score 2-1. A well timed defensive tackle and penetrative pass from Curlyne Wynn to Blair Wynne, who weaved her way through the defensive and forced an infringement, resulted in a penalty stroke. Sui Butt converted the stroke for a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute. Canada never gave up and scored a second penalty corner in the 65th by Jessalyn Walkey, her second of the game, but the final score read 3-2 in favour of Trinidad & Tobago.
Argentina - Bermuda: 25 - 0
Argentine demoralized the host country, Bermuda, with a Pan American cup record 25-0, just one goal short of their record score of 26-0 against Peru at the 2003 South American Champioship. Carla Rebecchi scored a double hat trick (6), Ace player - Noel Barrionuevo scored 5 goals, new comer, Macarena Abente scored 4 goals and Yania Rojas added 2 with eight other players contributing to the final score line of 25-0.
Cross-over 5-8 are Friday and will pit Canada against Jamaica, then Bermuda against Mexico.
Semi-finals are Saturday, with Argentina against South American rival Chile, then surprise qualified Trinidad & Tobago against the USA.
For more information, results, reports and pictures, check the Pan American Hockey Federation website by clicking here.
