U.S. Masters Wraps Up 2024 WMH World Cup in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - The World Masters Hockey (WMH) World Cup wrapped up today in Cape Town, South Africa. The O-40 Women was the highest finishing USA team in seventh, with Katie Grant (Washington, D.C.) being named the top goal scorer of that division with 10 goals. The O-35 Women finished in 14th, while the O-40 and O-65 Men closed out with competitive matches.

The U.S. O-40 Women met Singapore in the 7th/8th place match.

To open the scoring, Grant gave the red, white and blue the lead in the 9th minute. Grant followed that up with her second tally just before halftime, to put USA up 2-0.

On the other side of the break in the 33rd minute, Rebecca Beatty (Basking Ridge, N.J.) got her name on the scoresheet. Singapore cut the margin in the 36th minute when they converted off a penalty corner. No more goals were produced in the fourth quarter, as USA held on for the 3-1 win and seventh place finish.

Grant was the top goal scorer for the O-40 Women's division with 10 field goals.

Two first half field goals propelled France over the U.S. O-65 Men. It was a goal at minutes 3 and 18 that gave France the 2-0 advantage, as the second half saw no tallies from either side.

The U.S. O-40 Men toppled Argentina in their second to last match of the tournament. Scoreless after the first quarter, USA tallied two in the second period. The first came in the 19th minute when Noel Samu (Weston, Mass.) notched a field goal. Seven minutes later, David de Prez (Prosper, Texas) converted off a penalty corner to hold the lead at the half.

The red, white and blue remained on the front foot to start the third as Jelle Prins (Miami, Fla.) added his name to the scoresheet. In the 43rd minute, just before the close of the third frame, Argentina got on the board through a penalty corner. To seal the win, De Prez got his second of the game to make the final 4-1.

The U.S. O-35 Women finished out the tournament with a battle for 13th place against Zimbabwe. Their opponent got on the board early, notching a goal in the 4th minute. The second frame was a similar story as 4 minutes in, Zimbabwe tallied another, taking a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. The third quarter contained a bright spot for USA, as they did not allow a goal against and tallied their own from Chelsea Cipriani (Philadelphia, Pa.) - her first of the tournament - off a penalty corner. In the final minute of the match, Zimbabwe found the back of the net one more time to take a 3-1 victory, and USA finished with a 14th place standing.

It was an even contest between the U.S. O-40 Men and Alliance IMC. It was scoreless for the whole first quarter until Andrew Todd (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied for USA on a penalty corner with time expired. USA doubled their lead 4 minutes later when Benedict Riches (Windermere, Fla.) converted a penalty stroke. Alliance evened the score at 2-2 after scoring two penalty corner goals in the 24th and 29th minutes.

Following a scoreless third frame, the final 15 minutes was open for the taking and saw four score changes. USA regained the lead in the 48th minute when Todd notched his second of the game. This lead was short lived as Alliance equalized 2 minutes later off a set piece. The red, white and blue responded a minute later when Prins scored. Alliance evened it again in the 55th minute off a penalty corner, as neither team could find the go-ahead in the final minutes as it closed 4-4.

New Zealand jumped out to a quick start, tallying in the first minute of play through a penalty corner. The Black Sticks added another in the 10th minute to take a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. In the 22nd minute, New Zealand converted off a penalty stroke, and 2 minutes later, extended the lead to 4-0 on a penalty corner goal.

USA added one back in the 35th minute when Davinder Sahota (Bellingham, Wash.) stepped up and put in a penalty stroke. New Zealand continued to dominate and tacked on two more to make the final 6-1.

7th: O-40 Women

14th: O-35 Women

Masters Hockey SA

For more information on the WMH World Cup Cape Town, including schedule, results, rosters and livestream information, check out the event page by clicking here.