Guyana had to settle for a silver medal following their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Uruguay in the final of the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Women’s Challenge Cup yesterday at the Deodoro Hockey Complex in neighbouring Brazil.
Guyana were beaten 2-0 by Uruguay in their final preliminary match Saturday but the Uruguay side turned on the heat in the final to win handsomely.
Uruguay opened their account in the 5th minute when Lucia de Maria scored a field goal and then Isabel Olaso converted in the 15th minute also from a field goal.
Teresa Viana netted from a penalty corner in the 21st while Paula Carvalho scored a field goal to give the victors a 4-0 lead at half time.
At the resumption, Virgina Besio scored from a penalty corner in the 42nd minute while the sixth goal came off the stick of Florencia Norbis in the 53rd.
Brazil defeated Paraguay 2-1 to take the bronze medal.
Uruguay played unbeaten in the five-nation tournament organized by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) to select the best of the lesser developed nations to advance to the 2013 World Cup qualification competition.
Uruguay and Guyana by virtue of claiming the top two spots are now eligible to compete in the Pan American playoff of the 2013 World Cup qualification competition.
They will join the United States, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico to identify the Pan American region top two teams for the World Cup. The Guyanese had beaten Paraguay 2-1, drew 1-1 with host nation Brazil, hammered Bermuda 6-0 before going down to Uruguay twice.
The Pan American World Cup preliminary will get underway in October.
Uruguay’s Lucia De Maria and Karina Bisignano were the tournament’s top goal scorers with four goals each.
Captain Chentelle Fernandes led the scoring for Guyana with two goals.
Uruguay beat Brazil 3-1 to win the men’s final also played Sunday.
