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Bermuda

A heart-breaking loss – on penalty flicks – in the final was all that kept the Bermuda Hockey Federation men’s team from winning their first ever overseas tournament.
Finishing runners-up in the JFK Memorial Tournament in Virginia Beach last weekend was still a strong result, however, for the team which was formed roughly three months ago.
In the four games leading to the final the team had two wins, a draw and a loss. They suffered the loss against the tournament’s defending champions, Tri-State Falcons, who Bermuda also met in the final.
Bermuda’s squad – which draws on both Bermudian and expatriate players on the Island – opened the tourney with a 4-0 win over Atlanta.
The intense training the squad put in over the last two months seemed to pay off as Bermuda controlled the game with fluid passing play.
Keir Savage and team captain Neil Carroll were the first to score for Bermuda but Mark Ray and John Richmond soon chipped in with goals from penalty corners.
Their second match saw them defeat NY Islanders 2-0. Mark Ray and Nigel Deane stepped up for the goals and the fluid play seen in the team’s first match paid off again.
Securing a place in the final was heavily dependent on the third game. Bermuda needed at least a draw against Mavericks to guarantee they were in. And the 2-2 result proved just enough.
Mavericks closed Bermuda down from the start with strong, physical play. They dominated the first half and went up 1-0 but Bermuda stepped up their play in the second half with both Keir Savage and Mark Ray scoring before Mavericks equalised from a penalty corner.
A disheartening 3-0 loss against defending champions Tri-State followed, in which Bermuda’s lack of astro-turf training seemed to show.
Defensive lapses cost Bermuda three goals early in the game and although the team pulled together in the second half it was too little, too late.
Bermuda faced Tri-State again in the final on Sunday when the team changed their game plan and put in a much stronger showing, battling to a 2-2 draw.
“They scored two goals in the first half but we took control of the second half and scored twice,” said coach Nigel Pichery. “However, instead of going to extra-time which is what we were hoping for, the organisers went to penalty flicks.”
Bermuda lost 3-1 on flicks as Tri-State remained undefeated.
Despite the crushing final minutes, Pichery was pleased with the inaugural outing.
“We lost on flicks to take second place in the tournament. (It was) a good learning experience for all involved and it shows just how much more we have to do before we head down to Barbados,” he said.
The Federation team’s next outing will see them in Barbados for the week-long Banks Festival in August.

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