Valiente in C. V. Whitney Cup Finals

February 26, 2010 Game Reports 0

Valiente to face Zacara in Sunday’s finals


By Alex Webbe


 


 


Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente team scored a 12-10 win over Orchard Hill in the semifinals of the C. V. Whitney Cup Friday afternoon at the International Polo club, earning it a berth in Sunday’s 3pm finals.


Both teams battled for early control with the first chukker ending in a 3-3 tie before the Valiente team took early control.


Two goals from Miguel Astrada was complimented by shut-out defense in the second period as Valiente pressed ahead, 5-3.


Orchard Hill returned to the field in the third chukker as if on a mission, but its attacks on the Orchard Hill goal came up short.  It wasn’t until Valiente began fouling that Orchard Hill managed to get some goals on the scoreboard.


Two penalty goals from Orchard Hill 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough and another penalty conversion from teammate Lucas Criado got something going for the trailing team, but single goals from Valiente’s Magoo Laprida and Miguel Astrada kept the Colorado-based team ahead, 7-6.


Laprida scored his third goal of the game in the fourth and Nacho Astrada scored a goal from the field to give Valiente nine goals on the day, but a penalty conversion from MacDonough and a field goal from Hector Galindo kept Orchard Hill close.   The chukker ended with Valiente holding on to a one goal lead, 9-8.


Nacho Astrada converted two more penalty shots for goals in the fifth and Laprida notched his fourth goal of the game.  Lucas Criado scored from the field for Orchard Hill and teammate MacDonough converted another penalty goal, but the chukker ended with Valiente ahead 12-10.


Rushes up and down the field were deftly defended by the Valiente team members as Orchard Hill tried desperately to score.   The final horn sounded without a goal in the final chukker and Valiente celebrated the 12-10 victory that would pit them against Zacara in Sunday’s C. V. Whitney Cup finals.


Laprida, Miguel Astrada and Nacho Astrada scored three goals apiece for Valiente in the win.  Hector Galindo scored two goals for Orchard Hill.  Teammates MacDonough and Criado added four goals apiece.


PONY EXPRESS 15, PIAGET 13


Pony Express scored a 15-13 win over Piaget in International Cup play Friday afternoon at the International Polo Club. 


In a neck and neck game that was tied several times throughout the match, Pony Express rallied for three goals in the final chukker to salvage a 15-13 win in the C. V. Whitney Cub subsidiary tournament.


“Once we started hitting the ball and running,” said Pony Express 8-goaler Carlos Gracida, “we took control of the game.”


“They (Piaget) scored off of our mistakes,” said Matias Magrini.  “I didn’t feel as if we gave up that many goals on clean plays.”


Bautista Heguy led the Pony Express attack with eight goals.  Piaget 10-goaler Lolo Castagnola scored six times for Piaget.