Junior hockeymen advance over Guatemala in Pool A

Shaquille Daniel and Andrew Vieira scored a beaver-trick each as this country’s junior men’s hockey team pounded Guatemala 17–0 to secure second spot in Pool A at the Pan American Junior (Under-21) Hockey Championship at the Pan American Hockey Stadium, Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico, yesterday and with it a spot in one of two second round main draw groups.

Going into the contest, T&T needed a point to cement its spot and after Shakiel Joseph fired in the opener after seven minutes it was all over for the Central Americans as Daniel got goals in the ninth, 20th, 64th and 66th minutes while Vieira scored in the 14th, 24th, 45th and 67th minute for the junior “Calypso Stickmen” who led 8–0 at the interval. The trio of Ishmael Campbell (8th, 32nd), Quinn Clarke (11th, 42nd) and Tariq Marcano (42nd, 68th) added two goals each for the winners while Nicholas Triston Grant (48th) and Chad Pedro (56th) chipped in with one each for T&T to end with nine points, from its four matches, three behind Argentina which outclassed Brazil 5–1 in the day’s second match.

 

 

By finishing second, T&T now joins Pool B winner Canada and Pool C runner-up Chile in the second round Pool E group, while Argentina (Pool A winner), USA (Pool C winner) and Mexico (Pool B runner-up) will contest the second round Pool D main draw group. At the end of the second round Pool E and Pool D groups, the top two teams will qualify for the FIH Tenth Men’s Junior World Cup while the third place finisher will be the first reserve team. The teams placing third in Pool A and C and fourth in Pool B will comprise Pool F while the third placed team in Pool B, as well as the fourth placed teams in Pool A and C and fifth in Pool B will compete in Pool G all for positions seven through 13. However, the junior women’s team will have to settle for playing for the fifth to eight place after losing to Paraguay, 3–4 in their final round-robin Pool B match yesterday.

 

 

Maria Giosa (fourth) and Andrea Servin (fifth) netted in quick succession for Paraguay to lead 2–0 before Brittney Hingh (13th, 33rd) and Brianna Govia (19th) responded for T&T to lead 3–2 at the interval. In the second half, Giosa netted twice in the 40th and 55th minute to snatch all three points for the South Americans for their first win in four matches to move to three points, the same as Jamaica and T&T while Venezuela remained third with six points. Chile leads Pool B with 12 points from four matches and was joined in the main draw semifinal by runner-up USA which has nine points ahead of today’s final round of matches.

T&T will face Chile from 3.15 pm while USA plays Jamaica and Paraguay tackles Venezuela.