C. V. Whitney Cup: Pony Express vs. Las Monjitas

Pony Express Scores OT Win in Whitney Cup

By Alex Webbe

 

Adam Snow suffered a fall during the opening minutes of the opening game of the 2009 C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington Saturday afternoon.  A trailing player and mount, unable to change direction, rode over the top of the fallen horse and rider causing both of them to join Snow on the ground.

 

Both horses escaped unscathed as did the trailing player, Pony Express’s Pelon Sterling.  Snow, however, was forced to leave the game.

“He is a little dizzy,” said team trainer Alex Moraes, “and his ribs hurt where the horse stepped on him, but I think he’s going to be all right.”

 

Seven-goaler Bete Donovan entered the game for the sidelined Las Monjitas player, and the game continued.

 

Pony Express took a 4-3 lead after the second chukker on the strength of two goals from Nick Roldan and a penalty conversion from Matias Magrini.

Las Monjitas substitute Bete Donovan paid instant results, scoring twice in the chukker to keep the game close.

 

The teams traded goals in the third chukker.  Donovan and Eduardo Astrada each scored a goal for Las Monjitas while Roldan and Magrini notched single goals for Pony Express.  The teams left the field at halftime with Pony Express holding on to a narrow 6-5 lead.

Donovan scored twice for Las Monjitas in the fourth chukker while Pony Express was held to a single penalty goal from Magrini, and the teams entered the fifth period of play in a 7-7 tie.

 

Nacho Astrada opened the scoring in the fifth chukker to give Las Monjitas an 8-7 lead, but from that point on, the chukker belonged to Pony Express.  Sterling and Roldan continued to pound the ball deep downfield with Magrini providing excellent defense.  Roldan scored twice from the field while Magrini converted two penalty goals, and Pony Express left the field leading 11-8.

 

Just as Pony Express controlled the fifth chukker, Las Monjitas appeared to have its way in the sixth.  Donovan scored his sixth and seventh goals of the game while Nacho Astrada added another goal from the field.  Missed shots at goal came back to haunt Pony Express as time expired in the 11-11 game.

 

Following a ten-minute intermission both teams returned to the field for a sudden death overtime period.

 

Las Monjitas took early control of the ball and carried it toward the Pony Express goal.  A whistle was sounded and a penalty shot was awarded to Las Monjitas from the 40-yard line.  The shot by Donovan went wide, and Pony Express knocked the ball back into play and carried it directly to the Las Monjitas goal.  In a scramble in the mouth of the goal, a Pony Express player was fouled.  The ball was placed just yards from the goal line where Magrini stroked it through for the win.

 

Donovan led all scoring with seven goals.  Nacho Astrada scored three times and Eduardo Astrada added a single goal.

 

Roldan and Magrini each scored six goals for Pony Express for the victory.

Play continues on Sunday with a noon game between Orchard Hill and Lechuza Caracas followed by a 3pm contest between Audi and White Birch.