C. V. Whitney Cup: Audi vs. Zacara

March 4, 2009 Game Reports 0

Audi Runs Over Zacara


By Alex Webbe


 


Showing that the family that plays together stays together, brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres combined for 13 goals as Audi scored a 15-13 win over Zacara in the semifinals of the C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.


 


Playing without its patron, Lyndon Lea, Zacara brought Marianito Gracida (son of legendary Carlos Gracida) into the lineup and received two goals by handicap from the 26-goal Audi team to start the game.


 


Jeff Hall scored the first two goals of the game, and within minutes Zacara found itself sitting on top of a 4-0 score.  Gonzalito Pieres rallied the Audi troops with two consecutive goals. Marc Ganzi carried the ball through the goal for the final score of the chukker with Audi trailing 4-3.


 


The Audi attack stepped up in the second chukker getting two goals from Facundo Pieres and single goals from Gonzalito Pieres and Ganzi.  The Audi defense was just as resolute as the Audi attack, holding Zacara scoreless and taking a 7-4 lead.


 


Magoo Laprida scored from the field to open the third chukker for Zacara and teammate Hall added a penalty goal but four goals from Facundo Pieres pushed the Audi halftime lead to a comfortable 11-6.


 


Zacara and Audi managed a couple of goals apiece in the fourth chukker, and Audi held a five goal advantage, 13-8.


 


Zacara cut the deficit in the fifth period on a penalty goal from Hall followed by Magoo Laprida’s second goal of the game.  Gonzalito Pieres answered with a single goal to end the chukker and Zacara had cut the lead to 14-10.


 


Facundo Pieres converted a penalty shot to open the final chukker before a Zacara rally put three goals on the scoreboard.  The final horn cut the Zacara rally short and Audi won a berth in Sunday’s C. V. Whitney Cup final on the strength of a 15-13 win.


 


“I think they caught us off guard in the first chukker,” said Ganzi, reflecting on the game.  “They came out strong and put some goals up early.   I think we took control of the game in the second and third chukkers,” Ganzi added, “and after halftime just concentrated on improving our game.”


 


Facundo Pieres scored eight goals, brother Gonzalito scored five times and Ganzi added two goals for the win.


 


Zacara’s Hall scored eight goals.  Laprida added two goals and Carlos Gracida scored once.