Valiant Bermuda beaten by touring American University side

Bermuda National Training Squad 2-5 Eastern University

The Bermuda squad were put under pressure from the start by a fit and well-trained Eastern University hockey squad, from Pennsylvania.

The first five minutes belonged to the University as the mixed Bermuda team struggled to get  possession. 

In the sixth minute, good individual work by impressive young centre forward Maya Palacio earned Bermuda a penalty corner, which was shot wide.

However, three minutes later Keishae Robinson buried Bermuda’s second penalty corner into the net with a fierce drive to move them 1-0 up.

Eastern came back strongly and in the 19th minute,  Eastern University’s Jessica Jaindl scored a well-crafted goal after receiving a pass from Abby Wagner near the penalty spot, which went between a defender’s legs in front of the goal.

Eastern went on to increase their lead with another field goal 10 minutes later from a breakdown in the circle, which deflected off a defender and dropped to Danielle Frasca on the back post.

She slipped it in to put the University side 2-1 up.

With a much-changed line-up and the introduction of several Under-17 players, Bermuda had a nervous next 30 minutes as Eastern dominated. 

Wagner played the ball from outside into the circle to find Frasca, who scored a field goal and Megan Bolton from a penalty corner increased their lead to 4-1.

The last period saw a much-improved Bermuda team. They started much more in command and earned penalty corners in the 63rd, 68th and 73rd minutes.

With the first one, Georgia Harris stopped the ball at the top of the circle and Robinson scored another blistering strike.

As time ran down Bermuda removed their keeper in order to play with 11 field players and introduce more attackers but unfortunately gave up a field goal in the 86th minute from a Wagner cross to Lauren Gay to wrap up a  5-2 win for Eastern University.

Outstanding for Bermuda were Robinson and Amy Fox. 

Bermuda squad: Vickie Johnson, Lakae Tavares, Marcia Ford, Keishae Robinson, Melanie Fullerton, Amy Fox, Francesca Cacace, Zuri Philip, Ryce Trott, Yvonna Osborne, Ana Abend, Azari Thomas, Erica Parsons, Maya Palacio, Tse Smith, Georgia Harris, Emma Norman, Tiana Correia, Pier Simons, Maha Clarke.