2010 CAC Games: Womens Hockey Update
Amongst the many sports Bermuda is competing in at the 2010 Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico is hockey. The Bermuda National Womens Hockey Team consists of: Ryanne Bardgett, JoAnn Bielby, Francesca Cacase, Jennifer Chisnall, LaKae Dill, Marcia Ford, Constance Francis, Latonia Fray, Helen Marshall, Jasmine Patterson, Raven Pearman, Keishae Robinson, Iman Smith, Elizabeth Stewart, Catherine Stubbs, and Alexandra Wheatley.
A report from the Hockey Manager follows below:
With one match remaining for the Bermuda ladies hockey team in Caguas, Puerto Rico at the CAC Games the young, inexperienced team is bitterly disappointed to be in the position they are. On Friday they will meet host nation Puerto Rico to determine 7th and 8th place finishes in the competition.
Yet on Monday gone the team went into the game against Barbados knowing a win would propel Bermuda to the medal round for the first time ever. Unfortunately Bermuda lost the game 0-1 when Barbados converted a hotly disputed penalty stroke in the 19th minute. Despite a great performance by the defence Bermuda’s young and inexperienced foward line could not find a way past the Barbadian defence.
The team in Puerto Rico has 12 new international players in their first senior competition. These include 15 year olds Latonia Fray, Alex Francis and Iman Smith, 16 year old Raven Pearman, 17 year olds Jennifer Chisnall and Ryanne Bardgett, 18 year old Helen Marshall, 20 year olds Francesca Cacace and Jasmine Patterson and 21 year old Keishae Robinson. Only 4 players remain from the 2009 Pan Am Cup Team where Bermuda played and lost 0-25 to Argentina, 0-10 to Canada, 0-5 to Mexico, 0-7 to Trinidad and Tobago and 0-2 to Jamaica.
Expectations entering this tournament were for a young and largely untried team to learn from the experience of a major international competition. Despite their disappointment the results have exceeded all expectations.
In their first pool match against the Guyana team Bermuda drew 0-0 in a match largely played in the midfeld. Goalkeeper and vice-captain Alex Wheatley was only called upon to make 3 saves in the entire match, whilst Bermuda’s best opportunity fell to Francesca Cacace who narrowly failed to convert Jennifer Chisnall’s cross at the far post in the 30th minute.
In the second match against top team Trinidad and Tobago, who are gearing up for the Commonwealth Games in India in October, Bermuda produced a strong team performance to lose 0-4 which in modern hockey is not a large score. T&T scored from penalty corners in the 18th, 35th and 55th minutes and added their only open play field goal in the last minute of the first half. This so far is the only field goal Bermuda has conceded in 4 matches played at these games.
After the disappointment of narrowly losing to Barbados the team then played Jamaica. The mood was one of hesitation and uncertainty going into the match.
Bermuda started strongly penning Jamaica into their own half and not allowing Jamaica a shot at goal until the 15th minute. Although Jamaica forced 2 penatly corners in the first half the Bermuda defence led by team captain Lakae Dill held firm until half time. Bermuda was disrupted early in the second half when Dill and Jasmine Patterson both received temporary suspensions. When Bermuda returned to full strength in the 52nd minute Bermuda then had a great chance to open the scoring when Raven Pearman just failed to connect onto Jasmine Patterson’s pass into the circle. In the 55th minute both teams were warned by the umpires as the match became more physical with both teams trying to force the winner. Finally Jamaica converted a penalty corner to lead 1-0 with 9 minutes left. Just after the goal Bermuda was reduced to 10 players as Francesca Cacace received a temporary suspension. Bermuda threw players forward and gained a penalty corner in the 67th minute but their routine failed. As the final buzzer went Bermuda was awarded another penalty corner and Ryanne Bargett’s shot was somehow saved by Jamaica on the goal line. Bermuda, with time having run out, was awarded one more penalty corner but Jamaica somehow survived.
Thus the team with few expectations has done better than could be expected and yet remain bitterly disappointed as they gear up for their final game on Friday against Puerto Rico.
The games, which are running from from July 17th through August 1st, have seen Bermuda win five medals to date, and make a number of very strong showings in addition to the medal winning performances.
