Brianna Govia scored with seven seconds left in the match as T&T senior women’s hockey team edged host Peru 1-0 to make a winning start to their campaign at the 2021 Pan American Challenge Cup at the Villa Maria del Triunfo Pan American Complex, Lima on Sunday.
Going into the match, T&T coach Anthony Marcano had expressed hope that his 51st-ranked “Calypso Stickwomen” would be able to step up to the plate and make a positive start.
However, the 35th ranked Peruvians proved to be a formidable challenge and after the first three 15-minute quarters and the seconds ticking down in the fourth and final period, both teams looked destined for a share of the points in the 60-minutes clash.
That was until T&T scored on its final attack of the match, via a 'hail mary' play.
The play was started by a right-sided long in-bound pass up-field from in her half by co-captain Teresa Lezama that eluded three players and ricocheted off Peru goalkeeper Xiomara Bellina before falling to Govia, who lunged forward and swept the ball into the unguarded net to spark off wild celebrations amongst her team-mates.
With the win, T&T moved into a joint share of top spot with 60th ranked Paraguay, who stunned 37th-ranked Brazil 2-1 in the day’s opening match.
Ana Samudio fired Paraguay ahead in the 23rd minute but two minutes later Alice Queiroz, only for Lilian Catebra to net the winner for Paraguay in the 39th minute.
T&T next faces Paraguay in a clash of first-day winners on Tuesday from 12 noon before they meet Brazil, one day later from 12 noon am as well.
At the end of the round-robin phase of the competition, the top team will meet the fourth-placed team in one semifinal, while the second and third-placed teams meet in the other semifinals from which the winners will contest the tournament final as well as qualify for next year’s Women's Pan Am Cup from January 20 - 30.
The Pan Am Cup serves as a qualifier to the Pan American Games.
Sunday's Results
Brazil 1 (Alice Queiroz 25th) vs Paraguay 2 (Ana Samudio 23rd, Lilian Acuna 39th)
Peru 0 vs T&T 1 (Brianna Govia 59th)
Tuesday's Matches
T&T vs Paraguay, 12 noon
Brazil vs Peru 2 pm
