BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) won the boys’ title, while Mexico was crowned girls’ champions when the Junior Pan American Challenge concluded at the Hockey Centre on Sunday.
T&T emerged victorious with a dominant 3-1 victory over Brazil, while Mexico, the favorites, edged Puerto Rico 3-2 in a thrilling final.
A highly competitive contest was expected, with both T&T and Brazil already assured of a spot in this year’s Junior Pan American Games by reaching the finals.
Brazil scored in the 10th minute when Luigi Leonardi showcased his skill by dribbling around T&T’s goalkeeper, Leumas Neptune, before burying the ball in the goal to make it 1-0.
However, T&T, led by its captain and tournament MVP Lucas Varela, responded positively to the early setback.
Nicholas Siu-Butt made it 1-1 in the 26th minute, and four minutes later, Wayne Edwards put T&T in the lead from a short corner.
Edwards then sealed the contest in the 35th minute, sending his shot past Brazil’s goalkeeper Simon Carrera, who was named Best Goalkeeper.
In an exciting women’s final, Puerto Rico drew first blood in the fifth-minute courtesy of Kylie Coughlin, but Mexico’s Ximena Noria canceled that strike out in the 11th minute.
Fernanda Guzman then put Mexico in the lead in the 20th minute before Noria grabbed her brace in the 32nd minute to make it 3-1
Jalia Cooper drew one back for Puerto Rico in the 36th minute, but Mexico defended well to hang on to their one-goal advantage and claim the title.
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