Comeback for Dark Horse Seals Outback Polo League 12-goal
By Sarah Eakin
Gene Goldstein sealed a late game comeback for Dark Horse, scoring off a sixth-chukker pass from teammate Michel Dorignac to push the finals of the February 12-goal Outback Polo League at Hobe Sound Polo Club into overtime and set the scene for a 15-14 win over Detroit Blues.
“They are a very strong team and were winning most of the game. We just had a huge comeback at the end,†said Goldstein who was awarded MVP amateur in the post-match accolades that saw MVP Professional go to Dorignac and the Best Playing Pony award to his second and sixth chukker mare “Lacraâ€.
Detroit Blues lining up a balanced combination of Collin McCosh, Ezra Stevenson, Guillermo Usandizaga and Diego Arellano entered the sixth chukker with a three-goal advantage. They narrowly missed a chance to claim victory in overtime before Dorignac made a long solo run down the field to set up Max Menini for the sudden death winner for Dark Horse.
Goldstein also took the field in the 8-goal finals, this time for Hawk Hill, but it was opponent Tiffany Busch who claimed the MVP Amateur Award as Michelob/Altair triumphed 10-9. “She played very well that game,†Goldstein said. Hawk Hill’s Julio Ezcurra was selected as the MVP Professional – and was the high scorer of the game with a seven-goal tally. His mare “Carla†won Best Playing Pony.