Day 1 summary from the UANA World Championships Qualification Tournament

During the first game of the tournament, Argentina overpowered their South American counterpart Venezuela by the score 11-7. The game started with the usual jitters, with Argentina capitalizing on Venezuela’s defensive mistakes. Argentina went on top during the first quarter 3-1, a lead they never relinquished. During the second quarter, Argentina kept the lead by two goals.

During the last two quarters, the team in the white caps kept their composure as Venezuela mounted a comeback, two straight goals from Venezuela put the game 9-6, but Argentina reacted and scored two goals on their own. Mariele de Virgilio was the top scorer for Argentina and for the game with four goals. Dulce Hernandez was the best scorer for Venezuela with two goals. Argentina will play Brazil and Venezuela will do battle against Canada on tomorrow’s session.

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For the second game of the afternoon session, the host country Canada played against a feisty but physically weaker Brazil team. The game started with both teams playing strong defense not allowing the center forward to have good positioning for either a shot or an ejection. Brazil went ahead with two goals from centre forward # 12 Gabriella Mantellato. Canada countered with outside goals from # 7 Joelle Bekhazi.   The first quarter ended tied at 3.  Canada came out strong in the second quarter, scoring from the outside and counter attacks. Brazil’s inside game was still strong, but was not able to capitalize on the extra-person situations. Canada opened a 3 goals lead, 7-4.

A penalty and an extra person situation, both created from the centre forward position, gave Canada a 5 goal lead. Brazil couldn’t match the constant offensive Canadian attack, falling back in the score at the end of the third quarter 13-6. During the fourth quarter, the host team kept constant defensive pressure, not letting the Brazilian team create any kind of offensive continuity. Scoring at will from the outside, Canada opened up a huge advantage, winning the game by 10 goals. Izabella Chiappini led the Brazilian team with 4 goals. Joelle Bekhazi was the top scorer for Canada with 5 goals

The next game for Brazil will be against Argentina. The host country Canada will do battle with Venezuela.

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Canada cane out with a lot of fire both in offense and defense during the first quarter.  Goals were score from outside shooting and the centre forward play. USA relied mostly on their strong centre forward play. For the second quarter, Canada came out scoring two goals in less than 75 seconds to take a 4 goal lead. USA wasn’t able to score in the quarter, even though they had good opportunities from the perimeter and centre forward, plus two extra man situations.  Canada scored one more goal in the quarter, pushing the score to a 7-2 lead.

In the third quarter, Canada kept pounding the ball inside, opening for high percentage perimeter shots and scoring on the extra man. USA was only able to score from the perimeter, due to Canada’s relentless defense. The third quarter ended with Canada up 10-5. The last quarter was even up in scoring chances for both teams, but both defenses tightened up and no easy shots were allowed by either team. The first goal of the quarter was scored by USA on an extra man situation with 3:41 left. This was the only goal scored in the quarter. USA was led by Scott Davidson with two goals, while Canada was led by Nicolas Constantini and Justin Boyd with three goals apiece.

For tomorrow’s session, Canada will be hosting Argentina and USA will play Brazil.

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In what turned out to be a close game and most observers considered an upset, Argentina beat a traditionally strong Brazil team by the score 8-5.  Argentina started on top during the first quarter by one goal against a lackadaisical Brazil team. During the second quarter, both teams played strong defense and matched goal for goal. It was just a one goal game at the half, with Argentina ahead 3-2.

In the third quarter, Argentina showed more intensity and was able to keep Brazil from scoring goals at will. The third quarter ended with Argentina on top 6-3. During the last quarter, Brazil mounted a small comeback, cutting the lead to two goals. Argentina was able to increase their defensive intensity and capitalized on a penalty shot during the last minute of the game to increase the lead to three goals, a lead that was good enough to give them the victory. Argentina was led in scoring by German Yañez with 3 goals  and Brazil was led by Danilo Correa with 2 goals

Argentina will play against Canada and Brazil will do battle with USA.

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