The country’s U-21 hockey women suffered a tough loss to powerhouses Mexico at the Junior Pan Am challenge being played at the Sir Garfield Sports Complex in Bridgetown, Barbados

Guyana lost 0-6 with Ximena Noria and Valeria Espinoza scoring a pair of goals in the win.

Women head coach Phillip Fernandes told Guyana Chronicle, “Mexico is definitely the stronger side and were the favorites, they showed it today (Sunday). They were solid. We made two early mistakes and gave away early goals, they had us under some pressure and it was a tough game for the girls they started to get a bit tired down in the games and we had some misfortune because of some tough calls.”

On Saturday the ladies opened with a 4-nil defeat of Guatemala compliments of Georgiana Fernandes with a double in the clash as they dominated their Pan American counter parts with Kazaquah Uzzi and Keitanna Percival scored the other goals

The ladies take to the field again on Tuesday to battle Puerto Rico after which they will play host Barbados and then Trinidad & Tobago.

The men defeated Guatemala 2-nil on Saturday with both goals coming off the stick of Jabari Lovell.

The men who rested yesterday are in action today against Trinidad & Tobago then Venezuela, Brazil and host Barbados in the following days.

Men’s head coach Robert Fernandes speaking after the first game said, “It’s always important to start with a win, so I’m pleased with the three points and the fact that we scored two penalty corners. However, we struggled to match Guatemala’s physical intensity and our efficiency in the scoring area needs to be better. We’ll have to improve on those things in our match against Trinidad & Tobago to achieve a similar result.”

The Challenge is the regional qualifier for the second ever Junior Pan American Games scheduled for 9th to 22nd August in Asuncion, Paraguay with the top two teams in the men and women advancing.

The local teams are sponsored by Ministry of Sport and Guyana Olympic Association, Sabor café, C&V Shipping, Kestrel, Acado, King Ocean Line, and John Fernandes Ltd.