Anthony Marcano, coach of the senior women's hockey team has made eight changes to his team for the Second edition of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League First Round qualifying tournament carded for Kingston, Jamaica from September 30 to October 5.
For the one-week tournament at the newly-laid synthetic pitch at Mona Campus, New Kingston, T&T will come up against host Jamaica Barbados, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico from which one team will qualify to Round Two in Montevideo, Uruguay from February 28-March 8, next year.
But following a disappointing outing at the recent Commonwealth Games where T&T was crushed 16 -0 by South Africa, 14-0 both by New Zealand and India, 4-1 by Canada and 4-0 in their tenth placed match against Wales, Marcano has recalled Blair Wynne, Krizia Layne, Oire Trotman and Sekayi Liburd while giving first time senior call-ups to goalkeeper Arresia Sandy and Keima Gardiner.
Missing out this time are Avion Ashton due to work commitments, Amanda George, Savannah De Freitas, Stephanie Whiteman (school) and Kwylan Jaggassar, who has been named as a reserve.
Two years, the national women's team coached by Glen "Fido" Francis reached as far as Round Two in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where they ended in fifth spot in the six-team competition with a 1-4 record.
The "Calypso Stickwomen" lone win came against host Brazil, 3-1 while they were overwhelmed by tournament winners USA (7-0), runner-up Chile (6-0), third placed Scotland (7-0) and Uruguay, 6-1.
In the opening round which was held at the National Hockey Centre, Eastern Regional Sports Complex, Tacarigua, T&T, then coached by Ian Harris was third behind Canada and Uruguay after hammering neighbours Barbados (7-0), Guyana (5-0) and Venezuela (5-1) for a 3-2 record.
The two defeats came against round one winner, Canada (4-0) and runner-up Uruguay, 2-0. (NS)
squad
T&T women's team: Petal Derry (GK), Arresia Sandy (GK), Alanna Lewis (C), Patricia Wright-Alexis (C), Blair Wynne, Kayla Brathwaite
Tamia Roach, Dana-Lee De Gannes, Brittney Hingh, Krizia Layne, Zene Henry, Sekayi Liburd, Brianna Govia, Amie Olton, Elise Olton
Kristin Thompson, Oire Trotman, Keima Gardiner.
Technical staff: Anthony Marcano (coach), Stacey Siu Butt (assistant coach), Sharon De Freitas (manager), Natalie Nieves (assistant manager)