Jamaica suffer second straight loss
Jamaica women suffered consecutive defeats in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League tournament going down 0-2 against Trinidad and Tobago in the final game of a triple header at the Mona hockey field on Thursday night.
Trinidad and Tobago led 1-0 at the break and the victory was the third in the tournament thus far, after victories over Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
Earlier in the opening game, it took a shoot-out to give Trinidad and Tobago a 2-0 win against the Dominican Republic in men’s action.
Akeem Toussaint and Teriq Marcano were the players on target for T&T after the teams had battled to a 2-2 draw at full time.
In the second match of the afternoon, the Dominican Republic surprised Barbados 2-0 with goals by Cecilia Ofla and Agustina Birocho in women’s action.
Jamaica’s play was much improved as compared to their opener against the Dominican Republic, as they defended with an iron will against their opponents with many timely interceptions and outstanding play from Ombretta Gordon, Chakira Airey and Kamille Griffiths.
Industrious as the defenders were, the middle players were unable to hold up the ball long enough to give the defenders any respite. And from the constant pressure exerted by the Pan Am gold medallists, Jamaica gave way to eventually fall behind to a 25th minute goal scored as a result of a short corner by Tamia Roach.
Stung by the setback, the Michelle Holt-coached team could be seen redoubling their individual efforts to get back into the game. But while they were able to continue to defend stout-heartedly, the team’s technical efficiency was some way off and never really troubled the Trinis at the back.
Winning is all about scoring no matter how well you play. T&T too were hamstrung at not scoring a field goal. They nonetheless made effective use of the many corners they forced in the second session by manufacturing their second goal.
In minute 48 skipper Patricia Wright-Alexis took a short corner that rebounded into her path and from an acute angle, she beat a helpless goalkeeper Lorie-Ann McIntosh from close up.
Coach Holt was very confident that Jamaica will go far in the near future, “as the team will benefit from the exposure it will receive from attending more tournaments like the World League”.
Coach of Trinidad and Tobago Anthony Marcano was quite happy with the victory, although Jamaica, he thought, “played a very strong and physical game to which the players are not accustomed but had to adjust”.
“Nonetheless winning here today is a stepping stone heading towards the CAC Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico. We are the gold medal champions and we have to retain the gold medal, so getting there is what this is all about. It qualifies us to go into round two in Uruguay next year February, but our immediate concern is getting to Vera Cruz,” Marcano added.
Four games will be on today, Barbados against Trinidad and Tobago in both men’s and women’s action; Jamaica versus Puerto Rico in women’s action, before the Dominican Republic take on Jamaica men’s team.