THE Pepsi Hikers produced their second largest margin of victory over Team 2020 with a 9-1 thumping of their inexperienced opponents on Saturday in the first of the two men’s first division semi-finals in the GTT National Indoor Hockey championship. In the other men’s first division semi-final, Bounty GCC managed to turn the tables on Old Fort and delivered a 3-2 victory when it counted most. Pizza Hut GCC and Woodpecker Hikers predictably outclassed their competition to set up an exciting ladies final while the GCC Pitbulls and Old Fort Supersonics will square off in a repeat of their pool round clash which ended 2-2.
The Vintage go into the vets final heavily favoured against the Hikers.
Coming off a 12-2 score line between the same teams earlier in the pool, the Pepsi Hikers continued their masterful form shown throughout the competition with yet another hockey clinic against semi-finalists Team 2020.
Hikers Captain Robert France was unstoppable as he scored a match-leading hat-trick in his team’s 9-1 victorious final score. Tournament’s leading goalscorer Aroydy Branford added a double while Randy Hope, Jamarj Assanah, Andrew Stewart and Devin Munroe each found their moment of fame and a place on the score sheet. Steffon Simmons was the lone goalscorer for Team 2020.
Old Fort and Bounty GCC played to an exciting and close battle in the pool round which saw Old Fort hang on to a one-goal lead and a 4-3 victory in the end. The teams were to face off in the semi-final last evening in a must-win match for a place in the finals against the mighty Hikers.
This time it was GCC who found favour with lady luck as not much separated the two sides. A well-executed combination of passes finished with a Mark Sargeant goal which put the Bourda side up in the 12th minute. Kevin Spencer then added to Bounty’s lead in the opening minutes of the second half.
Old Fort captain Jason DeSantos would twice pull his team back within one but a third goal by Devin Hooper left GCC with the one goal edge at the final whistle.
The Pizza Hut GCC never looked troubled as they crushed the Old Fort Ladybugs by 5-0. After an Aliyah Gordon penalty corner goal in just the second minute, a Marzana Fiedtkou double and goals by Gabriella Xavier and Trisha Woodroffe put the game well beyond the reach of the Ladybugs as GCC continued their unbeaten run in the finals.
The Woodpecker Hikers seemed stunned for a moment in the second women’s semi-final as new-comer Sarah Klautky converted on a well-placed pass to give Spartans the lead in the 10th minute of play. The Hikers would enjoy the greater possession and levelled the score just before the half through striker Nicole Eastman.
Hiker’s Charlyn Elliot gave her side their first lead in the 26th minute but a second Spartan debutante, Madison Fernandes, managed an equalizer two minutes later.
Rushell Matthius and Nicole Eastman secured the game in the final minutes for a well-deserved Hikers victory by a 4-2 margin.
The GCC Pitbulls outclassed the Saint Stanislaus College by 6-2 in the first men’s second division semi-final with a Daniel Hooper hatrick being the highlight of the match. The GCC victory set up an exciting final as Old Fort put away Saints by a 3-1 margin in the second semi-final.
The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in the pool round and the final is too close to call. Veteran side the GCC Vintage made light work of all their opponents so far in the over-35 division and return for the final against the Hickers who have pulled off surprise victories in the past when least expected.
The finals were scheduled to be contested last evening at the National Gymnasium,starting from17.00hrs.