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 28th and 31st 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.
