The 13th edition of the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival got off to a flyer at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Wednesday evening with five local matchups.
The ladies division had an exciting start with the defending silver medalists, the Woodpecker Hikers taking on the Old Fort Shooting Stars. The game was a one-sided affair as the Hikers striker Kenisha Wills slammed home two field goals in the first eight minutes of play. There was no reply from the Shooting Stars and the game subsequently ended at 2-0.
Striker Gabriella Xavier of Pizza Hut GCC
The other ladies matchup of the evening saw six-time Festival champions, the Pizza Hut GCC pulverize their junior rivals the Bingo Spartans by 10 goals to one.
The Pizza Hut ladies got proceedings underway just two minutes into play through national striker Kerensa Fernandes. Fernandes would score thrice more while Trisha Woodroffe scored three with Talia Fiedtkou and Sandy Roopnarine adding one apiece for GCC.
Sarah Klautky managed a consolation goal for the Spartans off of a penalty corner just before halftime.
The men’s competition saw Bounty GCC predictably get the better of Saints as they racked up eight goals to Saints’ one.
Eric Hing and Mark Sargeant netted respective braces of the match while Kareem McKenzie, Peter DeGroot, Dwayne Scott and Meshach Sargeant each scored one goal each for GCC. Shakeem Fausette managed Saints only goal in the final moments of the game.
The PEPSI Hikers and Old Fort produced the most exciting match of the evening as Old Fort seemed the more threatening of the two sides in the opening minutes. The Hikers soon found their rhythm however and 2016 MVP Aroydy Branford produced a few moments of brilliance in the 7th and 16th minute to push Hikers ahead by 2-0. The second half saw national midfielder Jael Gaskin producing several skilful runs through the middle of the Hikers defence including one such move where he evaded three defenders before sliding his shot past goalkeeper Jason Hoyte. As Gaskin and the Old Fort side pressed for the equalizer in the dying minutes, the Hikers would seal the win over their opposition with a counterattacking finish from Branford to Devin Munroe.
The lone Carib veterans division clash of the evening saw GCC Vintage outwit Old Old Fort by 3-1 with the GCC goals being scored by Alan Fernandes with two and Patrick Edghill a single. Dwight Sullivan scored the lone goal for Old Old Fort.
Matches will continue throughout the week and weekend with the finals being played from 17:00 hrs on Sunday.
