Guyana ladies captain Trish Woodroffe on the attack (Jevon Williams Photos)
The National Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams got off to a flier on Sunday in Kingston, Jamaica with resounding wins at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games qualifiers.
The men played first, taking on Puerto Rico in the morning session. The Guyanese made light work of the opposition, winning comfortably by four goals to one.
The first half saw a stalemate between the two sides, with either side trying unsuccessfully to breach the other’s defence. However, upon resumption of play, the Sargeant brothers pushed Guyana to a 2-0 lead. First up was Mark Sargeant, who scored from a penalty corner in the 31st minute; and just four minutes later, his brother Meshach would give Guyana a 2-0 lead. But the Puerto Ricans struck back in the 38th minute through Ottus Feliciano.
Guyana’s youngest player, Kareem McKenzie, on the go in their game against Puerto Rico on Sunday
The Puerto Rican goal spurred the Guyanese into action, and they hit back twice to win comfortably. The evergreen Robert France got his name on the score sheet with a blinder of a field goal in the 56th minute, while Aroydy Branford made it 4-1 just a minute later.
As for the Guyanese women, they dominated Panama to clinch their first victory of the CAC Qualifiers by a whopping six goals to nil.
The Guyanese ladies got things under way after just six minutes, as Shebiki Baptiste netted off a penalty corner. The Guyanese ladies would however have to wait 18 minutes for another goal, this one coming from seasoned veteran Kerensa Fernandes, who found the back of the net in the 24th minute.
Known for her attacking prowess, Latacia Chung announced her presence in the game just two minutes later with a sharply taken field goal. And making it 4-0 for Guyana was debutant Tamala Glenn, who struck home in the 38th minute, while Kerensa doubled her money in the 46th, with Marzana Fiedtkou completing the 6-0 rout in the 56th minute.
Guyana’s Andrew Stewart (left) battles for the ball with a Puerto Rican Player
In the other women’s fixtures of the day, Bermuda and Puerto Rico drew 0-0, while hosts Jamaica defeated Guatemala 5-0.
In the only other men’s game on Sunday, Jamaica dominated Panama to win 6-0.
The Guyanese men will play their next game on Tuesday from 15:30 hrs, when they face Guatemala; while the Guyanese ladies will face Puerto Rico today from 13:30 hrs. (Michelangelo Jacobus)
