ExxonMobil Indoor Championships: Pepsi Hikers, Roulette, Scorpions taste victory on day 2
The second night of indoor hockey action in the ExxonMobil National Indoor Hockey Championships has seen the Hikers establishing dominance in two divisions, while the GCC ladies, in typical fashion, have showed their class.
Abosaide Cadogan scoring a penalty corner for GCC Roulette versus Saints
Playing in their first match of the season, the GCC Roulettes managed to upstage opening night winners Saints by 3-1. A powerful penalty corner flick by young national striker Abosaide Cadogan, followed by two spectacular individual goals from visiting Belgian midfielder Leo Berlie and Captain Alysa Xavier, sealed the match for the Roulettes.
Captain Alysa Xavier of Roulette on her way to scoring her team’s third goal
Nicole Eastman managed a penalty corner for Saints, who put on a good show in the early minutes but then faded toward the end.
Despite also finishing with a victory, GCC Ignite had a tougher challenge against the Misfits, who led for almost the entire first half following an early goal from former national player Maria Munroe.
Midfielder Sarah Klautky, however, launched the comeback of Ignite with a double in the second, only for Misfits Romichelle Brummel to draw even at 2-2. Captain Aliyah Gordon, who had been the stabilizing force for her team, scored the final goal of the match to secure the 3-2 hard- fought victory for Ignite.
The Pepsi Hikers managed the highest goal tally for the second night in a row when they defeated the Guyana 40s by 6–3 in the men’s first division competition. The Guyana 40s put up a brave challenge, and seemed to draw the best out of the Hikers, but tired as the night wore on, and succumbed to the constant pressure of the Hikers.
Captain Robert France was the high-scorer of the match with a hattrick of goals.
Saints and YMCA Old Fort battled to a 2-2 draw in a match featuring two youthful and energetic sides. This match contrasted that of the Hikers-40s tactical duel, and was played at lightning speed, with both sides fighting to the final buzzer.
Bounty GCC seemed to make the job harder against 50 Not Out than it should have been.
Despite a Kevin Spencer goal in the opening minute of play, GCC could not score a second, until the second half through Kareem McKenzie, but added two more in quick succession. Philip Fernandes was the lone player on target for 50 Not Out with two goals, but his efforts fell shy of the GCC’s four goal tally, which saw GCC through to a 4-2 win.
Saints Scorpions were the big winners in the men’s second division competition with a 4-0 victory over the Saints Sensations. Scorpion Baraka Garnett was the star of the show with a hattrick of goals for his team. The Hikers Cadets completed the list of matches with a narrow 5-4 victory over YMCA Old Fort in the other men’s second division matchup.
Full results are as follows:
MALE Division
Pepsi Hikers defeated Guyana 40s by 6-3
Goals:
Pepsi Hikers (6) – Robert France 3, Jamarj Assanah 2, Aroydy Branford 1
