3 points ... it's a good start

Yesterday was the real showing that we can really compete at this tournament. I am not sure how much Argentina was holding back or if their good players were playing but they weren't the Argentina that I am used to seeing. They were a lot slower and not as shifty in their stick work. We beat them 2-0 with goals by Nikki and Angela. With some good pressure on their weaker players and defense as a unit we will really be able take some of these teams.

Today we sealed our first win with a bit of a sketchy start. I'll take credit on that one. Almost every reception bounced off my stick or hit my stick and went over the board. Any upright traps or receptions on the run with an upright stick will bounce. The balls are almost like playing with giant rubber bouncy balls and the boards are terrible. They had to super glue the boards to the floor because they move so much so,  hopefully people won't trip and break an ankle.

After the slow start for my self and the rest of the girls we regrouped and scored a goal in the first half. That goal was scored by Jess Buttinger on a great passing play with Kate Gillis. Following that we just tried to get our touches on the ball right and figure out where we had to be.

Second half we came out a different team. We were moving the ball back and forward a lot faster and a lot harder. I was playing left D and right D and was able to cause quite a few counter attacks picking off passes off the right half boards. We scored 3 more goals - one off a broken down PC (Amanda Woodcroft) and two more goals I think by Jess and Angela. Anyway, we got the 4-0 win, the 3 points and we are excited to take on Trinidad. Hopefully the floor and balls will stop being an issue and we can move on and keep gaining points!! I am excited and I think our team will do well but we need to work hard and we need to be smart.

We are just back at our hotel about to have lunch today and then we are heading back to the court to watch Trinidad & Tobago vs. Uruguay - the other two teams in our pool. Should be good.




Starting Line-up: Kri Shier, Ali Lee, Azelia Liu, Kate Gillis, Malinda Hapuarachchi, Angela Lancaster
Goals by: Jess Buttinger (2), Angela Lancaster, Amanda Woodcroft