Lechuza scores 11–7 win in semifinals of C. V. Whitney Cup

February 24, 2011 Game Reports 0

Lechuza to Meet Valiente in Whitney Cup Final


By Alex Webbe


Daily News Polo Columnist


A balanced Lechuza attack took an early 4-2 lead after the second chukker of play Thursday afternoon and never looked back as they rolled to an 11-7 win over the Hawks in the semifinals of the 2011 C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.


A low scoring opening chukker had Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero scoring the only goal of the period as Lechuza held the early 1-0 lead.


Julian Mannix and brother Freddie Mannix scored consecutive goals in the second chukker to put the Hawks on top, 2-1, but the celebration was short lived as Lechuza stormed back into the game.


A single goal from Martin Espain and a pair from Sapo Caset ended the chukker with Lechuza holding a 4-2 advantage.


The play was fierce on both sides of the ball, but it would be Lechuza that would score three unanswered goals in the third chukker.


“They (the Hawks) are a very strong team,” said Lechuza coach, Roberto Gonzalez.  “Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way,” said the Mexican 6-goaler. “It can happen to any team,” Gonzalez added, “I’ve played in games like this.”


Juan Martin Nero scored his first goal of the game in the third, followed by goals from Martin Espain and Matt Coppola (replacing team captain Victor Vargas who was out of town).  The Hawks were held scoreless and Lechuza rode off the field at the end of the first half with a commanding 7-2 lead.


The Hawks continued to play a strong game, but nothing seemed to fall in place for them.  They scored on one of two penalty shots for a goal (Mariano Gonzalez), but couldn’t add to it and after blanking the Lechuza offense for the first time all day, trailed 7-3.


Caset scored two more goals in the fifth chukker but the Hawks showed a bit of life.  Two goals from Mariano Aguerre and a penalty goal from Mariano Gonzalez cut the Lechuza lead to three goals, 9-6, with one period left to play.


Mariano Gonzalez converted a penalty shot for a goal in the final chukker, but Coppola and Espain tallied single goals for Lechuza for an 11-7 win and a berth in Sunday’s finals of the 2011 C. V. Whitney Cup, where they will face a powerful Valiente team.


High-goal polo action continues at the International Polo club on Friday with EFG Bank playing Bendabout at 1pm followed by a match between Equuleus and Las Monjitas in the 20-goal Iglehart Cup