US Field Hockey News

U.S. Men Move to 5th/6th Place Game with 2-1 Win Over Barbados

 SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Aug. 9) – The U.S. Field Hockey men’s national team used two second half goals by Jarred Martin (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) to down Barbados, 2-1, and earn a spot in the 5^th/6^th place game at the Pan American Games.

The U.S. will meet Trinidad & Tobago for 5^th place in the tournament at 20:00, Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Parque del Este.

In scoring his 5^th and 6^th goals of the tournament, Martin was the beneficiary of two Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) passes that found the U.S. forward open in front of the cage.

“Today was important,” said Martin. “The last couple of days were tough after we knew we weren’t going to make the semis. This wasn’t our best game, but Pat’s passes to me were right on, and I was able to put them in the net. This was an important game and we were able to go through with the victory.”

After the USA misfired on five first half penalty corners, the team watched its next best scoring opportunity bounce harmlessly off the cage crossbar when Harris’ flick over Barbados keeper Andrea Boyce narrowly missed the goal.

“I have to give credit to Barbados,” said U.S. coach Shiv Jagday. “They were very focused and they did their homework, they knew what we did and they gave us difficulty in those areas. But we had out chances in the opening minutes and we kept them in it at the beginning of the game.”

Barbados was quick to capitalize on its opportunities as the team earned two quick penalty corners late in the second half before  Mark Murray blasted the second attempt off the pads of U.S. keeper Jason Wellings (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) to give Barbados a 1-0 halftime lead.

The U.S. answered in the second half when Harris outran the Barbados defense on a counter attack and launched a pass to Martin who deposited it in the empty cage to tie the game at 1-1

“Somebody just said ‘go’,” said Harris on making his run down the sideline to set up the tying goal. “Something just clicked in my head and I went for it. I saw Jarred on the left and he put it in.”

The two U.S. teammates combined for the game winner six minutes later when Harris weaved his way into the circle before once again dumping off a pass to a wide-open Martin for the easy goal.

Although not entirely pleased with his team’s performance, Jagday allowed a concession to his team’s heart.

“I have to recognize how we came back as a team and showed our team’s character,” said the U.S. coach. “The boys do know what to do even when they’re under huge pressure.”

After surviving two late Barbados penalty corner attempts, the U.S. played the final four minutes of the game without Wellings in the cage after the U.S. keeper was suspended with Anthony Trotman of Barbados for an altercation in front of the U.S. goal. Jeb Saez (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) replaced Wellings in the goal as the U.S. defense shutdown Barbados in the final minutes for the victory.

USA 2, Barbados 1

BAR: Mark Murray (PC, 30:00)
USA: Jarred Martin (FG, 47:00)
USA: Jarred Martin (FG, 53:00)

United States
Starters: Jang Badhesha, Pat Harris, Jarred Martin, Shawn Hindy, Rinku Bhamber, Pat Cota, Shawn Nakamura, Daljeet Sagoo, Koijan Kainth, Daraspreet Kainth, Jason Wellings (GK)

Reserves: Ian Scally, Gurpal Kundi, David Schmoyer, Jeb Saez (GK)

Barbados

Starters: Andrea Boyce (GK), Jeffrey Webb, Rodney Legall, Shawn Harewood, Mark Murray, Mark Owen, Leroy Mayers, Kregg Franklin, Dominic Hill, Anthony Trotman, Rohan Thomas

Reserves: Roger Bailey, Shawn Cumberbatch, Robin Parris, Donovan Smith

Cards: USA: Shawn Hindy (G, 20), Pat Harris (G, 39), Rinku Bhamber (G, 60), Jason Wellings (Y, 67); BAR: Leroy Mayers (G, 60), Anthony Trotman (G, 42; Y, 67)

Umpires: Donny Gobinsingh (TRI), Marcello Servetto (ARG)

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