Ellerstina wins; will face La Dolfina in Argentine Open final,their third final showdown of the season
By Alex Webbe
Ellerstina (Polito Pieres, Nico Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres and Facundo Pieres) made a splash in the opening minutes of the semifinal match of the 2015 Argentine Open at Palermo in Buenos Aires as Polito Pieres tapped the ball in the air several times on a run toward the La Aguada/Las Monjitas (Ignacio Toccalino, Sebastian Merlos, Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr. and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) goal, but it would be Ignacio Toccalino who would score the first goal of the game for the early 1-0 lead. Ellerstina got the tying goal on a shot from the field from Facundo Pieres while Toccalino was ironically lying on the field after his horse slipped and fell to the ground. The first chukker played out without any further scoring for a 1-1 start.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas keep the pressure on Ellerstina with Alejandro Novillo Astrada slamming through a shot on goal from teammate Toccalino for a 2-1 edge in the opening seconds of the second chukker. Fouls proved costly, however, with Facundo Pieres converting two penalty shots that gave the lead to Ellerstina at the end of the period, 3-2.
Polito Pieres stretched the Ellerstina lead to thre5-2 with consecutive goals from the field in third chukker action. Alejandro Novillo Astrada kept La Aguada/Las Monjitas alive with a penalty goal to trail, 5-3 when the chukker ended.
The fourth period belonged to Ellerstina with goals from Facundo Pieres (penalty shot), Polito Pieres and Nico Pieres while holding La Aguada/Las Monjitas scoreless. At the end of the first half it was Ellerstina in control of an 8-3 game.
Prospects weren’t much brighter for La Aguada/Las Monjitas as the second half got underway. Ellerstina got a pair of goals from Facundo Pieres (one on a penalty conversion) and single goals from Polito Pieres and Gonzalito Peres. La Aguada/Las Monjitas responded with goals from Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Sebastian Merlos but fell behind by seven goals, 12-5.
Ellerstina play got sloppy in the sixth and fold resulted in two penalty goals from Alejandro Novillo Astrada and a single goal from Toccalino. This time it was the La Aguada/Las Monjitas defense that provided shutout play as they cut the Ellerstina lead to four goals, 12-8.
Facundo Pieres scored on another penalty shot for Ellerstina to open the seventh period, 13-8, when the La Aguada/Las Monjitas attack erupted for three straight goals that had them within two points of the lead. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored one on a penalty shot and one from the field. Toccalino added a La Aguada/Las Monjitas goal at the one minute mark, 13-11. Polito Pieres closed out the period with his fifth goal of the game to put Ellerstina on top by three goals, 14-11.
Eighth chukker goals from Nico Pieres and Facundo Pieres (30-yard penalty conversion) gave Ellerstina a five goals lead with three minutes left in regulation play and Aguada/Las Monjitas struggling to create any offense. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored his seventh goal of the game at the two minute mark for the final goal of the game as Ellerstina rode on to the 16-12 victory and a rematch with La Dolfina in the final of the Argentina Open Championship on Sunday, December 13th.
Facundo Pieres scored six of his game-high eight goals on penalty conversions. Polito Pieres added five goals from the field with Nico Pieres scoring twice and Gonzalito Pieres being credited with a goal for the win. Alejandro Novillo Astrada’s six goals (four on penalty shots) led the Aguada/Las Monjitas attack. Toccalino scored three times; Eduardo Novillo Astrada added two with Sebastian Merlos getting credit for a goal in the loss.
Washington 15, Chapaleufú 12
Earlier the veteran Chapaleufú team (Pepe Heguy, Nachi Heguy, Ignatius du Plessis and Eduardo Heguy) gave a young Washington lineup (Diego Cavanagh, Ezequiel M. Ferrario, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci) their first win of the Argentine Open, 15-12.
Washington took the early lead on a penalty goal from Facundo Sola. 1-0, but Chapaleufú stormed back. Eduardo Heguy tied it at 1-1 on a 60-yard penalty conversion and with 9 seconds on the clock, Nachi Heguy gave Chapaleufú the 2-1 lead after the opening chukker.
Pepe Heguy extended the Chapaleufú lead to two goals, 3-1, with a goal in the first minute of the second period. Washington responded with goals from Diego Cavanagh and South African 8-goaler Ignatius du Plessis (replacing the injured Bautista Heguy), 4-2.
Washington tied the game at 5-5 in the third and eked out a narrow 7-6 lead after the first four chukkers.
Chapaleufú scored three fifth chukker goals while holding Washington to a single score as they took back the lead, 9-8, but Washington was just getting started. Three goals in the sixth and seventh periods went unanswered and Washington rode into the eighth chukker with a five goal, 14-9 advantage.
Chapaleufú rallied for three goals in the final chukker while Washington managed only a single goal, but it was more than enough as they celebrated the 15-12 win.
Diego Cavanagh and Facundo Sola led the Washington attack with five goals apiece. Ezequiel scored three times and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci added two goals in the victory. Pepe Heguy scored five times for Chapaleufú. Eduardo Heguy scored two of his three goals on penalty shots with Nachi Heguy and Ignatius du Plessis scoring two goals each.