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Official Site | 99 Pan Am Field Hockey Schedule Field Hockey Results | US Rosters | Chronology 1999 Pan American Games Women's
Preview Argentina (ARG) The Pan American Games added women’s field hockey to the Games programme in 1987, and since that time there has been only one champion: Argentina. But Argentina’s field hockey tradition extends well beyond the Pan Am Games. The Argentineans are the only Pan Am team to appear in all nine FIH World Cup tournaments, winning silver medals in Mandelieu in 1974, Berlin in 1977, and Dublin in 1994. In the Olympic Games, Argentina placed seventh in Seoul in 1988, and seventh in Atlanta in 1996. The Argentine tradition at the Pan Am Games could be kept intact with young stars like forward Alejandra Gulla and veterans like Karina Masotta. A member of the 1998 World Cup team at age 20, Gulla was also named the 3rd Junior World Cup’s Best Player in 1997. Masotta represented Argentina at the 1994 and ‘98 World Cups and 1996 Olympic Games. Coming off a fourth place finish at the 1998 World Cup, coach Sergio Vigil welcomes back World Cup veterans Vania Oneto and Aleyen Stepnick (Den Bosch) and Luciana Aymar (Cologne) following their seasons in the Dutch and German leagues. Canada (CAN)The host of the 1999 tournament, Canada has never failed to win a medal in three previous Pan American appearances. Included in the Canadians success is a silver medal in 1991, along with a pair of bronze medals in 1987, and 1995. On the world pitch, the Canadian field hockey tradition includes a fifth place finish at the 1984 Los Angles Olympic Games, a sixth place finish in Seoul in 1988, and a seventh place finish in Barcelona in 1992. Head coach Dru Marshall leads an experienced team featuring six players with over 50 international caps including ‘95 Pan Am bronze medalist and Winnipeg native Chris Hunter (55). Among the most-capped Canadian players, Laurelee "Jumbo" Kopeck has 112 international appearances including the 1991 Pan American Games, ‘90 and ‘94 World Cup and ‘92 Olympic Games in Barcelona. Chile (CHI)Making its first appearance in the Pan American Games tournament, Chile earned its invitation to Winnipeg after placing second to the Argentina "B" team in the South American Championship. The Chileans shutout 1995 Pan Am qualifier Paraguay (3-0) and Uruguay (3-0) before losing to Argentina , 5-1 in pool play and 3-1 in the final. Cuba (CUB)Since first appearing in the Games in 1991, Cuba has continued a steady climb up the Pan American standings and may be ready to once again contend for a medal. After a sixth place finish on the home pitch in Havana in 1991, the Cubans placed fourth in 1995, losing to Canada in the bronze medal game, 4-0. Cuba demonstrated its claim as a Pan Am contender with an impressive gold medal performance at the 18th Central American and Caribbean Games, where the team went 5-0 in pool play before defeating Mexico, 1-0, for the title. The Cubans scored 25 goals during the tournament, while giving up only one. Regla Gomez (7) and Yaquelin Drake (6), led the CAC Games in goals scored. Cuba’s CAC Games coach, Edgardo Vasquez Marquez won an additional gold medal as a member of the Cuban men’s team. Mexico (MEX) Making its second Pan American Games appearance, Mexico returns to the games for the first time since earning a fourth place finish in Havana in 1991. With a second place finish at the 18th Central American and Caribbean Games, Mexico earned its trip to Winnipeg after going 4-1 in CAC pool play. The team lost to Cuba (2-0) in round-robin play and then lost to the Cubans again in the gold medal game (1-0). Mexico’s Olivia Garcia (5 goals) and Rosalba Del Rosario (4 goals) led the team in scoring at the CAC Games and were members of Mexico’s first Pan Am team in 1991.Trinidad & Tobago (TRI) One of only four countries to appear in all previous Pan American tournaments (with Argentina, Canada and the U.S.), Trinidad & Tobago earned its best Pan American Games finish in 1987 with a fourth place showing in Indianapolis. The team placed seventh at the 1991 Games and added a fifth place finish in 1995. Cristabella George-Ford, Kathleen La Rode, Nicole Dixon, Oire Trotman and Penny Stephens were named the five best women’s Players of the Year in 1998 by the Trinidad & Tobago Hockey Board, while "Marvelous" Maureen Jacob earned the spot in goal at the Commonwealth Games. Pan Am veteran Staci Ann Sui Butt captained the team at the Commonwealth Games and was named MVP of the club league. At the Commonwealth Games, Trinidad & Tobago recorded 1 win against 4 losses in a pool that included World and Olympic Champion Australia (0-8). United States (USA)With two silver medals and a bronze in three previous Pan Am appearances, the U.S. team enters the 1999 Tournament with a new coach and a renewed focus. Australian Olympic gold medalist Tracey Belbin was named the U.S. head coach in January, and has selected a team balanced with Olympic veterans and promising newcomers. Midfielder Tracey Fuchs has played in all three Pan American Games since women’s hockey entered the Games programme, and is expected to be joined at the Games by Olympians Antoinette Lucas, Kris Fillat, Jill Reeve, Kelli James, Katie Kauffman and Cindy Werley. Goalkeeper Peggy Storrar was named 1998 Player of the Year by U.S. Field Hockey following her performance at the 8th Women’s World Cup that included a shut-out in regulation time with South Africa in the classification round. The U.S. placed eighth in the World Cup tournament. A consistent presence at other major international tournaments, the USA has appeared in three of the first five Olympic tournaments (‘84, ‘88, ‘96) and in each of the last five World Cup tournaments (‘83, ‘86, ‘90, 94, ‘98). The USA won bronze medals at both the 1984 Olympic Games and 1994 World Cup. |
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