Source: www.newsday.co.tt
The Trinidad and Tobago men’s hockey team lost the first two of their four-match series against the US men’s national team on their USA tour, in preparation for this year’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, in October.
Although the “Soca Stickmen” had an impressive start, they lost their opening match 4-2 to a better prepared US team. Trinidad and Tobago (TT) opened the scoring in both halves with goals from Akim Toussaint in the 5th and 37th minute respectively. It was the defenders, however, who made critical errors which resulted in goalkeeper Karlos Stephens being beaten four times.
TT’s line-up for the first match was Stephens, Toussaint, Kwan Browne, Darren Cowie, Javon Woodward, Shaquille Daniel, Aidan De Gannes, Mickell Pierre, Alan Henderson, Attiba Whittington and Dwain Quan Chan.
Game two was played on Thursday and saw the US team clinch a 3-2 win over the Soca Stickmen. TT opened the scoring with a cracking field-goal from Mickell Pierre in the eighth minute. The US team equalised 15 minutes later to level the score at 1-1. Atiba Whittington put TT on top with a field goal in the 36th minute to close off the first- half with a 2-1 lead.
In the second-half, the Soca Stickmen played well but just could not penetrate the tough US defence. On the other hand, the US team utilised their opportunities and were able to score and level the game at 2-2. In the final minutes of play, the US took advantage of a series of short corners and scored the winning goal seven seconds from the final whistle.
Christopher Scipio was in the starting line-up for TT in this match.
National men’s hockey team coach, Eric Verboom expressed his disappointment with the results but was still optimistic of the squad. Verboom said the TT team is more talented but were beaten by a team who was more prepared for the encounter.
The third game against the US team was played yesterday.