THE GCC ladies began their second stint of matches in the Trinidad and Tobago 2015 women’s hockey season with a 3-3 stalemate against points leaders Paragon in the sweltering 11:00hrs heat at the Eastern Sports Complex in Tacarigua, Trinidad yesterday.The last time the two teams met just two short weeks ago, GCC had squandered a 2-0 lead to succumb to the powerful Paragon by 5-2.
According to reports out of the Twin Island Republic, on this occasion (yesterday), the Guyanese came ever so close to upsetting the table but failed to preserve a 3-2 lead in the dying minutes of the match, as Paragon managed to draw even three minutes before full time at 3-3.
GCC took an early lead in the seventh minute of the match despite facing some opening pressure, as winger Gabriella Xavier received a cross from striker Shebiki Baptiste and nailed her shot into the back of the Paragon net.
Trinidad national captain and Paragon leading player, Allana Lewis, responded two minutes later with a smooth solo run through the centre of the GCC defence to finish with a cool reverse sweep, to beat young Briawna Gordon in the GCC net to even the score at one.
Lewis signalled her intention to dominate the match as she pushed Paragon ahead by 2-1 with another fine finish just six minutes from halftime.
GCC’s Kerensa Fernandes managed to level the scores once again two minutes later with a tap-in finish off a goalmouth scramble to see the teams into the halftime break dead even at 2.
GCC produced some fine hockey in the second half and pressured the Paragon deep defence into several turnovers and the Guyanese were rewarded when team captain Sonia Jardine received a midfield pass and evaded several Paragon defenders with some fine stick work before slamming a bullet of a shot into the roof of the net in the 42nd minute.
Paragon pressed for the winner and created several threatening changes as the clock wound down. Just as the game seemed destined to end in GCC’s favour, a failed clearance by the GCC defence saw Paragon striker Zene Henry first onto the ball to tap in the rebound and draw the match at 3-3.
The GCC lasses were down to face Magnolias at 18:30hrs last evening in their second of four matches on the two-day trip.