Guyana women’s hockey team moves into final stage of preparation for CAC Games

Sep 30, 2014 Sports

In their preparation for the Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Games being

Flashback of Guyana contingent, including the women’s hockey team, at the last CAC games four years ago in Puerto Rico.

held in Vera Cruz, Mexico from November 15 to 23, 2014, the Guyana National Women’s Hockey Team played its final selection match on Saturday 27th September at Bourda. Following the match the national selectors met to shortlist the final team of 16 players who will be making the journey to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the prestigious games.
The Guyana women competed in the last CAC Games four years ago in Mayguez, Puerto Rico where they entered as the 8th and final seed in the rankings but came out in 5th position.
As a result of their international success over the past few years, the Guyanese ladies now find themselves ranked a much more respectable 3rd. A final placement of 3rd or higher will qualify Guyana for a position in the Pan American Games of 2015 being held in Toronto, Canada.
In this year’s CAC Games, Guyana has been placed in Pool B along with defending champions Trinidad, the Dominican Republic and Bermuda. Pool A comprises of hosts Mexico, Cuba, Barbados and Jamaica. Guyana will open its bid for a medal on November 15th against the Dominican Republic. The two sides have never met in previous competitions but the Dominican Republic made the semi-finals at the last CAC Games four years ago and is likely to give the Guyanese a tough challenge.
Guyana is then scheduled to face the highly regarded Trinidadian side, fresh off their Glasgow Commonwealth Games appearance in July. Guyana complete its pool round against Bermuda against whom they have one victory and one draw in the past four years.
After Saturday’s match, the national selectors have narrowed the field to 23 players and will bring

Guyana defensive stalwart, Ulrica Sutherland clears a ball against Jamaica during the last CAC games.

that down to the final 16 in one week’s time. Those selected to the squad are:
Alysa Xavier (GK), Jonelle Webster (GK), Briawna Gordon (GK), Sarafina Phillips(GK), Ulrica Sutherland, Ashley DeGroot, Tiffany Solomon, Maria Munroe, Trisha Woodroffe, Aliyah Gordon, Marzana Fiedtkou, Janella Munroe, Leigh Sandison, Gabriella Xavier, Rebecca Xavier, Latacia Chung, Kerensa Fernandes, Chantelle Fernandes, Dacia Woodroffe, Samantha Fernandes, Shebiki Baptiste, Tekeisha Deleon and Princessa Wilkie.