T&T, USA crowned Pan Am Indoor Hockey champs

By Treiston Joseph  

Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America emerged champions of the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively when action culminated in the Pan Am Indoor Hockey Cup in Guyana on Saturday night. 

Trinidad and Tobago’s team chemistry was on full display in the final of the Men’s competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, as they finished with a 7-0 win against Argentina.

While many saw the victory as an upset, the twin island republic always looked like a team on a mission and after the first two goals by Mickell Pierre and Akim Toussaint in the third and 11th minutes, the game just seemed to flow for the Trinidadians.

While Argentina made some daring moves with Juan Eleicegui trying a 360-goal for Argentina but failing to convert, they kept giving up a number of fouls that Trinidad captilised on as Pierre scored on the stroke of half time to end the half 3-0.

Solomon Eccles would score out of  a penalty corner to start the second half with a strike in the 23rd minute, while Marcus James added to the lead in the 28th. Toussaint notched a double in the 34th minute, while Aidan de Gannes rubbed salt in the wounds of Argentina with a solitary strike.

Meanwhile, USA Ladies pulled off a tough 2-1 win to claim gold in the final. It was definitely a great defensive showing by both teams with all three goals coming late in the second half.

Katie Gerzabek opened the scoring for America in the 31st minute, but Argentina quickly equalised with a shot of their own from Emma Yanzi in the 34th minute.

While both teams searched for a winner in the physical display by both teams, Argentina committed a tough foul that sent America to the penalty spot that Ali Campbell blasted into the top right corner of the goal in the 35th minute to seal the title win.