This country's senior women's hockey team led by co-captains Alana Lewis and Patricia Wright-Alexis will begin their gold medal defence at the 22nd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Veracruz Mexico against Bermuda today from 9 am (11 am TT time).Four years ago in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, the T&T women coached then by David Francois trounced Mexico 4-0 in the final with a goal each from Lewis, Kristin Thompson, Stacey Siu Butt and Blair Wynne for their second gold to add to their previous triumph in 2002.
The local women also swept past Dominican Republic 6-1 in the semifinals having topped their four-team pool with wins over Barbados (3-0), Bermuda (4-0) and Guyana (5-1).This time around veteran Siu Butt is not in the team having retired, but ten other players who were part of that victorious squad in Lewis, Wright-Alexis, Thompson, Wynne, Oire Trotman, Sekayi Liburd, Brittney Hingh, Krizia Layne, goalkeeper Petal Derry and Avion Ashton, back from injury have made the trip to Veracruz with coach Anthony Marcano.
The 25-year-old Ashton was a member of the T&T team which placed tenth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, but then missed the Second International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League First Round qualifying tournament in Kingston, Jamaica where the "Calypso Stickwomen" topped its group with wins over Puerto Rico (5-1), Dominican Republic (3-1), Jamaica (2-0) and Barbados (2-0) due to injury last month.But the long-serving national player has since fully recovered from her injuries and is the only addition to the team while clubmates, Zene Henry and Keima Gardiner as well as goalkeeper Arresia Sandy of Paradise have been dropped, as the tournament only allows for 16-member teams as compared to 18 at the FIH tournaments.
Following today's match, T&T will also face Guyana on Monday and Dominican Republic on Wednesday to end Pool B play while Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico and Barbados are in Pool A.
Tournament pools and fixtures
Pool A: Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Barbados
Pool B: T&T, Bermuda, Guyana, Dominican Republic
Today
T&T vs Bermuda, 11 am
Cuba vs Jamaica, 1 pm
Guyana vs Dominican Republic, 3 pm
Mexico vs Barbados, 5 pm
Monday 17
Bermuda vs Dominican Republic, 11 am
Barbados vs Jamaica, 1 pm
Guyana vs T&T, 3 pm
Cuba vs Mexico, 5 pm
T&T women's hockey team
Alanna Lewis (captain), Amie Olton, Avion Ashton, Blair Wynne, Brianna Govia, Brittney Hingh, Dana-Lee De Gannes, Elise Olton, Kayla Brathwaite, Kristin Thompson, Krizia Layne, Oire Trotman, Patricia Wright-Alexis (captain), Petal Derry (goalkeeper), Sekayi Liburd, Tamia Roach.Technical staff: Anthony Marcano (coach), Stacey Siu Butt (assistant coach), Karielle De Bique (physiotherapist), Valisha Sylvester (manager), Cindy Martin-Faustin (head of delegation), Zynul Khan (doctor)