MT. BRILLIANT 13, EFG BANK 12
By Alex Webbe
In the most exciting match of the day, Mt. Brilliant rallied to defeat a talented EFG Bank team to capture the Bobby Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club.
Powered by a determined Santiago Chavanne, Mt. Brilliant came back from a 9-6 deficit to outscore EFG Bank by four goals in the final two chukkers of the game and escape with a hard-fought 13-12 win.
“We really should have taken this one,†said EFG Bank’s Luis Escobar. “We had our opportunities, we just didn’t make the plays when we needed to.â€
In a fast-paced contest that saw nineteen goals scored from the field, Escobar scored three consecutive goals in the third period while the EFG Bank defense shut out a high-scoring Mt. Brilliant foursome. Another chukker of shutout defense and another goal from Escobar and Julio Arellano had them ahead 9-6, but Chavanne and Mt. Brilliant weren’t through yet.
Chavanne displayed brilliant stick work while scoring three goals in the fifth period. A single goal from Arellano kept EFG Bank in the lead by a single goal, but Chavanne wasn’t through.
Chavanne tied it at 10-10 in the sixth and then added two more goals for a 12-10 lead. Julio Arellano converted a penalty shot to cut the lead to one. Pelon Escapite broke loose for a goal in what looked like the game clincher. Arellano maneuvered the ball through the Mt. Brilliant for the final goal in the 13-12 Mt. Brilliant win.
MVP Santiago Chavanne led all scoring with ten goals. Pelon Escapite added two goals and Julian Daniels added a single goal in the win.
Julio Arellano scored eight goals for EFG Bank. Luis Escobar scored four times.
Tournament play will continue on Thursday, January 22 in the first found of the Ylvisaker Cup.
Arellano’s Sweet and Low was named Best Playing Pony.
Lucchese will meet Isla Carroll at 1pm while Audi will make its season debut against Patagones at 3pm.