The host nation, currently ranked number 15 in the world, sliced through the Mexican defence early on as Alex Thicke scored the opening goal in just the fourth minute.

Stephanie Norlander added a second for Canada while Mexico keeper Jesus Castillo was forced into saves from a number of Canadian penalty corners.

Canadian captain Kate Wrigh extended her country's lead to 3-0 before Sara McManus fired home from a penalty corner for the fourth.

Thicke added her second of the game to make it 5-0 before Brienne Stairs completed the scoring.

There was also an emphatic win for Chile as they defeated Trinidad and Tobago 9-1.

Kim Jacob needed just one touch to cushion a cross and fire the ball past keeper Petal Derry for a 1-0 Chilean lead just three minutes in.

Chile added two more in the opening quarter as skipper Camilla Caram scored from a penalty corner and Jacob added a second from a goalmouth scramble.

The South Americans extended their dominance even further as Mariana Lagos added two more goals, while Manuela Urroz and Consuelo de las Heras each added another goal.

Trinidad and Tobago's captain, Patricia Wright-Alexis, salvaged some pride as her effort deflected in at the near post before the Chileans added a further two.

India, the top-ranked nation at the tournament as they sit 12th in the world, required a shoot-out to get the better of Uruguay in the opening match in Pool A.

The Indians needed just four minutes to take the lead as captain Rani's deflection put them 1-0 up, an advantage which they held until half time.

Uruguay’s relentless pressure paid off when Viana Ache collected a loose ball and struck home to tie the game at 1-1.

In the 49th minute, Indian defender Monika smashed a ball through the Uruguay defence to Katariya Vandana whose deflection found the net.

Uruguay's Manuela Pilar flicked the ball high past Indian goalkeeper Savita to tie the game at 2-2, but it was India who claimed victory in the shoot-out, winning 4-2.

The top two finishers at the event in West Vancouver, the third round two competition, will book a spot at the HWL semi-finals, where qualification for next year's World Cup will be at stake.

The third-placed team must be ranked higher than 15th-placed Italy and 17th-placed Scotland to sneak through to the next round, meaning India can afford to finish third.

There was also action in the ongoing men's HWL round two event in Trinidad and Tobago.

Canada and Japan will meet in the final after they were victorious in today's last four encounters.

The North Americans eliminated Russia 4-1 while Japan proved too strong for the United States as they ran out 2-0 victors.

Russia took the lead against Canada through Marat Khairullin, before Mark Pearson restored parity after 20 minutes.

Two strikes from Scott Tupper put the Canadians 3-1 ahead and Pearson added a second after 48 minutes to guarantee his team's place in the final.

Japan won in much more comfortable fashion with strikes from Kaito Tanaka and Kenta Tanaka easing them through.

The final, as well as the classification matches, are set to bring action to a close in Tacarigua tomorrow.