PAHF Challenge: Women’s hockey team victorious in opener against Brazil

Guyana featured in the opening match against neighbours Brazil in the 2024 PAHF Challenge scheduled for September 21-28, 2024 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Guyana flew in two days earlier with the intention to get in a couple of training sessions on the highly- prized artificial surface on which the international game is played. Underdogs Guyana, ranked #68 in the world, would have a significant challenge to topple Brazil which sit 13 places higher on the world rankings at #55.
The warm Bermuda sunshine greeted the teams for the opener, with Brazil sporting their all yellow and Guyana in their all-black One Communications kits. The game started at a feverish pace that saw Guyana string together a few threatening attacks that almost put them on the scoreboard in the opening minutes. Brazil would settle and create some good buildups of their own, levelling out the run of play which saw the teams go into the halftime break dead even with no goals scored.

The second half would see Brazil earn a few penalty corners, but goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, who had made a brilliant save in the first half, seemed untroubled by the Brazilian penalty corner strikes. As both teams tired and sat deeper in defence determined not to give any scoring opportunity to their opponent, they both relied on counterattacking hockey to produce opportunities. Guyana came closest to scoring in the third quarter when full-back Trisha Woodroffe threaded a powerful long-range pass to Princessa Wilkie high on the left wing. Wilkie’s attack of the circle just found the edge of the stick of sliding Brazilian goalkeeper Carolina Muller, but the deflection fell into the path of striker Samantha Fernandes, who put her shot just wide of the open goal.
With three minutes left in the game, Woodroffe outlet a free hit to left-back Makeda Harding, who transferred a long ball up the left wing to striker Abosaide Cadogan. Cadogan weaved past the shoulder of the Brazilian right back and sent her pass across goal to the waiting Makaylah Poole. Poole, who had been having the game of her life with threatening runs up the right wing, guided the ball into the goal past the advancing Muller.

The Guyanese then withstood a heavy Brazilian onslaught in the final minutes as they pushed for the equaliser, but the impenetrable Guyanese defence held strong until the final whistle saw Guyana clear to their upset victory, defeating Brazil in hockey for the first time ever.
Guyana were scheduled to face Paraguay next in their second pool match on September 22. Guyana featured in the opening match against neighbours Brazil in the 2024 PAHF Challenge scheduled for September 21-28, 2024 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Guyana flew in two days earlier with the intention to get in a couple of training sessions on the highly- prized artificial surface on which the international game is played. Underdogs Guyana, ranked #68 in the world, would have a significant challenge to topple Brazil which sit 13 places higher on the world rankings at #55.
The warm Bermuda sunshine greeted the teams for the opener, with Brazil sporting their all yellow and Guyana in their all-black One Communications kits. The game started at a feverish pace that saw Guyana string together a few threatening attacks that almost put them on the scoreboard in the opening minutes. Brazil would settle and create some good buildups of their own, levelling out the run of play which saw the teams go into the halftime break dead even with no goals scored.
The second half would see Brazil earn a few penalty corners, but goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, who had made a brilliant save in the first half, seemed untroubled by the Brazilian penalty corner strikes. As both teams tired and sat deeper in defence determined not to give any scoring opportunity to their opponent, they both relied on counterattacking hockey to produce opportunities. Guyana came closest to scoring in the third quarter when full-back Trisha Woodroffe threaded a powerful long-range pass to Princessa Wilkie high on the left wing. Wilkie’s attack of the circle just found the edge of the stick of sliding Brazilian goalkeeper Carolina Muller, but the deflection fell into the path of striker Samantha Fernandes, who put her shot just wide of the open goal.
With three minutes left in the game, Woodroffe outlet a free hit to left-back Makeda Harding, who transferred a long ball up the left wing to striker Abosaide Cadogan. Cadogan weaved past the shoulder of the Brazilian right back and sent her pass across goal to the waiting Makaylah Poole. Poole, who had been having the game of her life with threatening runs up the right wing, guided the ball into the goal past the advancing Muller.
The Guyanese then withstood a heavy Brazilian onslaught in the final minutes as they pushed for the equaliser, but the impenetrable Guyanese defence held strong until the final whistle saw Guyana clear to their upset victory, defeating Brazil in hockey for the first time ever.
Guyana were scheduled to face Paraguay next in their second pool match on September 22.