US Field Hockey News

Mexico Upsets USA Men, 2-0, at Pan Am Cup

LONDON, Ontario – Mexico scored a stunning upset over the USA men's field hockey team with a 2-0 win in crossover play at the Pan American Cup.

The loss drops the USA into 7th/8th place game on Saturday against the loser of Friday's Puerto Rico/Netherlands Antilles contest while Mexico advances to 5th/6th place game.

The shocking loss comes just two days after the USA narrowly missed a trip to the tournament semifinals with a 2-1 loss to Chile to conclude pool play. Coach Shiv Jagday's team had rolled to three wins in the tournament while outscoring its opponents 31-10. Meanwhile, Mexico had recorded just one victory at the tournament while scoring only seven goals in pool competition.

The USA had not lost to Mexico in Pan Am competition since a 2-1 loss at the 1971 Pan American Games.

After a scoreless first half, Mexico finally got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute when Jorge Gomez connected on a field goal past USA keeper Jeb Saez for a 1-0 lead. Mexico would hold on to hand the USA its only shutout of the tournament and added a final penalty corner goal by Jamie Chavez at the end of regulation play to secure the victory.

May 21 at London, Ontario

Mexico 2, USA 1

MEX: Jorge Gomez (FG, 41)
MEX: Jamie Chavez (PC, 70)

USA Starters: Jang Badhesha, Pat Harris, Jarred Martin, Shawn Hindy, Rinku Bhamber, Ian Scally, Pat Cota, Gurpal Kundi, Shawn Nakamura, Koijan Kainth, Jeb Saez (GK),

Reserves: Ramandeep Sandhu, Daraspreet Kainth, Daniel Jordan

Cards: USA Danny Jordan (G, 63), Pat Harris (G, 22); MEX Aaron Cuevas (G, 28)

Halftime: Mexico 0, USA 0

www.usfieldhockey.com