Guatemala's Ana Lucia Martinez (white jersey) bears down on the Broward College goal during their friendly on October 4, 2014, in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
PEMBROKE PINES, Florida – The Guatemala women's national team got their final preparations for the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship off to an impressive start with a pair of wins in friendlies over the weekend.
As part of a 12-day camp in Florida prior to their Group A opener against Haiti on October 15, the Chapinas are playing four matches against local sides.
On Saturday, they posted an 11-0 victory over Broward College. Ana Lucia Martinez led the way with four goals, while Melany Cayetano netted three in the first half. Mia Espino, Marylin Rivera, Alida Argueta and Diana Barrera tallied once each.
“Despite having arrived on Friday night, I feel very at ease and in good shape for the tournament,” said Martinez. “Scoring goals is always important.”
A day later, Martinez struck for a hat-trick as Guatemala defeated Miami’s Pinecrest Academy, 5-1. Londy Waleska Barrios and Diana Barrera also got on the scoresheet in a winning effort.
“To have the team competing helps us,” said Guatemala head coach Benjamin Monterroso. “The opponent is not important. The important thing is to take competition rhythm because there are players who have not had activity and the important thing in this is to implement the game concepts we are going to use in the CONCACAF championship.”
Guatemala will complete its schedule with encounters against South Kendall Sunblazer SC (October 7, 7:00 p.m. ET, at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park in Miami) and West Pines United FC U-18 (October 9, 7:30 p.m. ET, at West Pines Soccer Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida).
