Pony Express Rallies to a 12-11 OT Win
By Alex Webbe
Fighting its way back from an 8-4 halftime deficit, Bob Daniels’ Pony Express (1-1) team rallied for a come-from-behind 12-11 overtime win over Bendabout (0-3) in the 2009 USPA Monty Waterbury Cup at the 302 Polo Club in Aiken Sunday afternoon.
Tomas Goti scored the first goal of the game for Pony Express on a penalty shot and actually led 2-1 at the end of the first chukker, but the tone of the game quickly changed.
An aggressive Bendabout attack put three goals on the board in the second chukker with field goals coming from Owen Rinehart, Hector Galindo and Gillian Johnston as the defense held Pony Express to a single Goti score. The period ended with Bendabout holding a 4-3 advantage after the first two chukkers.
Bendabout looked unstoppable in the third frame with Whistle Uys scoring a pair of goals to open the fourth period. Ensuing goals from Galindo and Johnston saw Bendabout go up 8-4 as Pony Express was held to a single goal from Matias Magrini.
Magrini and teammate Pablo Avalos each scored for Pony Express in the fourth chukker with the defense holding Bendabout to a single goal from Galindo. Pony Express had cut the lead, but still trailed 9-6.
A renewed urgency came to the field with Pony Express in the sixth chukker with goals from Avalos, Magrini tying the score at 10-10 before Goti put them on top for the first time since the opening period.
Bendabout staged a rally of its own, however, with Rinehart knotting it up at 11-11 to end regulation play.
Play carried back and forth in the overtime period with each team having opportunities but neither taking advantage. It wasn’t until 6:42 were gone in the sudden-death overtime that Magrini scored the game winning goal that gave the game to Pony Express, 12-11.
Goti led all scoring with six goals. Magrini and Avalos scored three goals each in the win.
Johnston, Galindo and Rinehart scored three goals apiece for Bendabout. Uys added two goals.
Action will continue in Monty Waterbury Cup play on Monday, September 28 in a 10 am contest between Barrington (2-1) and MavOffice.com (1-0).