In their first two games at the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Canadian women’s indoor national team hadn’t let in a goal. But that impressive streak ended Wednesday as Canada (1-1-1) fell 4-2 to host Uruguay (2-0-1) in a heated battle for top spot at in the round robin.
It was a tale of two halves with the host team, who had to work for the full forty minute to secure the victory.
The first half was Uruguay’s game as the home team, egged on by their flamboyant home crowd, put away the first goal. Isabel Olaso scored in the second minute after a wonderful solo dash.
Olaso scored her second of the game in the seventh minute after stealing the ball from a Canadian defender, making a nice move and putting it past keeper Kathryn Williams (Burlington, Ont.).
Canada’s chance to respond came off a penalty corner as Kri Shier took a hard shot but was stopped on by an athletic save from Rossana Decia Paselle.
Uruguay then extended its lead in the seventeenth minute as Carolina Multiva beat Williams.
By the end of the first half, Canada had settled into the game but found themselves trailing 3-0.
Canada showed better in the second half, despite the first chance of the half going to Uruguay on a nifty shot, with Williams being forced to make a good glove save.
And then, after a Canadian defender had the ball go off her foot near the goal line, Uruguay was awarded a penalty shot. Olaso took the shot and beat Williams to make it 4-0 Uruguay.
The game was far from over though and Canada gave a good effort, battling hard. Cards began to fly as the two highly competitive teams battled for the game. The match went down to three-on-three in the later part of the match and to four-on-two after Uruguay suffered two yellow cards.
After mounting the pressure, Alison Lee (Mississauga, Ont.) finally broke Canada’s silence slotting one in the twenty-ninth minute.
With emotions running high and first place on the line, the officials had to calm the teams down, before Canada once again beat Paselle. Co-captain Kaelan Watson (Richmond, B.C.) dribbled straight down the throat of Uruguay’s circle and fired one past Paselle scored in the thirty-third minute to bring Canada within two but that’s as close as they’d come.
The final score was 4-2 in favour of Uruguay, who earned first place in the round robin with the win. Canada finishes second. View the full match sheet here.
Canada will play the United States in the second semi-final Thursday at 4:45pm PST/7:45pm EST. Watch the live stream here.
To support the Women’s National Indoor Team with a tax-receipted donation, click here.
Written with files from Carla Johl.
Photos by Blair Shier.
