La Aguada wins first round match in Tortugas Open
ByAlex Webbe
Sapo Caset’sreturn to high-goal polo was a successful one, scoring six times as the LaAguada team (Sapo Caset, Javier Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada andIgnacio Novillo Astrada) an impressive 13-8 win over a struggling Alegriafoursome (Agustin Merlos, Lucas Monteverde, Pite Merlos and Fred Mannix).
In adefensive-minded first chukker La Aguada squeaked out the only goal of theperiod for a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Alegriaresponded with a pair of goals in the second period while shutting down adangerous La Aguada attack. After twochukkers of play, Alegria had turned the tables on La Aguada for a 2-1 lead.
La Aguadaowned the third, picking up four goals while limiting the Alegria offense to asingle goal. Nearing the halfway point,La Aguada moved out in front by two goals, 5-3.
Alegriamatched La Aguada goal for goal in the fourth chukker, gaining no ground. After four periods of play Alegria continuedto trail by two goals, 7-5.
Both defensesclamped down in the fifth and goals were at a premium. Each team managed a single goal and with twochukkers left in regulation time La Aguada continued to lead by a pair ofgoals, 8-6.
The newlyformed La Aguada lineup really began to gel in the sixth as they scored fourunanswered goals and bolted out to a commanding 12-6 lead.
Alegriaattempted to mount a last chukker rally, but the effort came too late. Alegria managed two goals while limiting LaAguada to a single goal. La Aguada rodeoff with the 13-8 win, sending Alegria (0-1) into Sunday’s match against the40-goal La Dolfina juggernaut as the Tortugas Open, the opening leg of theArgentine Triple Crown of polo continues.