The GBTI GCC girls hockey team are back from a successful stint in Trinidad & Tobago over the weekend where they secured double gold in the girls’ Under-16 and Under -21 divisions.
The Guyanese team inclusive of manager and coach
The GCC girls took a bit of time in their first Under-16 match against the Magnolias to get accustomed to the fast surface at the Woodbrook Youth Facility; they managed to emerge with a 5-1 victory. That goal would be the only one conceded in the entire Under-16 competition by all-star goalkeeper Jessica Mittelholzer, and her fellow Guyanese teammates. The GBTI GCC girls then followed that victory with a 5-0 win over Checkers, 6-0 over Sepos and 5-0 over Bishops.
The Under-16 final would see a repeat of the very first Under-16 match contested by the GCC girls as they took on Magnolias, who had finished second in the pool. GCC managed to best their earlier effort by outclassing Magnolias by 6-0 to lift the Under-16 trophy. Striker Abosaide Cadogan was on fire for GCC, scoring four of their goals while Madison Fernandes added one field goal and Kirsten Gomes scored a penalty corner.
Three Guyanese were part of the all-star squad
The Under-16 side was strengthened by 16-year-old Makeda Harding for the Under-21 competition. Once again, GCC topped the pool round and this time faced Paragon in the Under- 21 final. This match was more challenging for the Guyanese girls as Paragon played a more physical game and were able to deny space to the GCC strikers.
After a 0-0 halftime score, striker Sarah Klautky raced up the right side of the court to unleash a shot which was blocked by the Paragon goalkeeper. Top goal-scorer in the Under-21 competition, Abosaide Cadogan, however, was first onto the rebound and managed to slide her reverse shot into the net for the opener. Cadogan would return six minutes later to score her second of the match and push the game beyond Paragon. This time, Sarah Klautky received a pass from midfielder Madison Fernandes on the left, drew the last defender and goalkeeper before guiding a perfect pass across the scoring circle to the speedy Cadogan on the right, who slammed her shot into the open net.
The 2-0 victory saw the GBTI GCC girls walk away with both trophies in the girls’ category.
Cadogan received the leading goal scorer award for the Under-21 competition. The tournament organisers announced a six-player all-star team at the end of the competition which comprised four of the GBTI girls. Striker and GBTI Under-16 captain Klautky, striker Cadogan, midfielder Madison Fernandes and goalkeeper Mittelholzer.
The full GBTI GCC team: Abosaide Cadogan, Haley Carpenter, Sarah Klautky, Madison Fernandes, Makeda Harding, Kirsten Gomes, Madison Singh and Jessica Mittelholzer, along with Coach Philip Fernandes and Manager Dominique DeGroot.
