La
Casa Hermosa downs Flat Out, 10-8
By
Alex Webbe
La Casa Hermosa fell behind early but staged a second
half rally that carried it past Flat Out in the Wanderers Classic Thursday
afternoon at the International Polo Club by a 10-8 score.
Flat Out took early control of the game, scoring three
consecutive goals before La Casa Hermosa got started. Steve Krueger scored the first goal of the
game followed by goals from teammates Todd Offen and Paul Knapp. Jeff Blake kept La Casa Hermosa from getting
shut out with a closing goal. Flat Out
led 3-1 after the opening chukker of play.
In second chukker action, Knapp’s second goal of the game
had Flat Out ahead, 4-1, when La Casa Hermosa came alive. Consecutive goals from Chris Nevins and Jeff Blake
cut the Flat Out lead to a single goal, 4-3 to end the chukker.
Nick Snow extended the flat Out lead, 5-3, with his first
goal of the game, but La Casa Hermosa was just getting started. Coordinated passes and hard riding resulted
in goals from Nevins and Jeff Blake, and at the end of the first half, it was
all even at 5-5.
La Casa Hermosa’s defense tightened up in the second
half, holding flat Out scoreless while picking up a pair of goals from Brad
Blake, and for the first time all day La Casa Hermosa ended a chukker with a
lead, 7-5.
A penalty conversion by Brad Blake in the fifth had La
Casa Hermosa leading 8-5, but Flat Out wasn’t done yet. Consecutive goals from Snow and Knapp kept it
close, but Flat Out continued to trail, 8-7.
Offen’s second goal of the game had it all tied up at 8-8
in the sixth chukker when La Casa Hermosa put it away. Goals from Nevins and Brad Blake ended the
game with a 10-8 La Casa Hermosa victory.
Brad Blake led La Casa Hermosa with four goals. Nevins and Jeff Blake accounted for three
goals apiece.
Flat Out team captain Paul Knapp scored a team high three
goals. Snow and Offen each scored a pair
of goals and Krueger added a goal in the loss.