20-2 defeat for depleted Guyana in Pan Am Hockey Cup

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyana’s Women suffered a huge defeat in their opening game of the Pan American Indoor Hockey Cup, losing 20-2 to hosts, defending champions and top ranked USA on Friday.

The Guyanese, missing two key players in Sonia Jardine (injury) and captain Gabriella Xavier (COVID-19), were further depleted before heading on court, with goalkeeper Alysa Xavier producing a positive COVID-19 result.

Short on resources, the team manager had to take up the slack between the uprights, further throwing Guyana’s pre-tournament plans into disarray.

USA went on a scoring rampage, slotting home 14 unanswered goals in 27 minutes, before Abosaide Cadogan scored the first of her two strikes. Cadogan scored in the 28^th and 31^st minutes.

Hope Rose led USA to victory with seven goals, while Ashley Sessa netted five and Elizabeth Yeager three. Ryleigh Heck and Corinne Zanolli scored a double apiece, and Madison Orobono accounted for the other goal.

Guyana will be in action again on Friday, this time against Argentina from 18:00h.

Earlier in the day, Canada and Uruguay played to a 1-1 draw. Later this afternoon, Argentina will tackle Uruguay and USA will come up against Canada.