Coca-Cola nails down last Quarterfinal Berth
By
Alex Webbe
Coca-Cola and Alegria battled through the first three
chukkers of play in what amounted to the last playoff qualifying spot in the
2012 Ylvisaker Cup Tuesday afternoon at the International Polo Club in
Wellington, but things went better for Coke as they ran off with a 13-10 win.
In a defensively oriented opening chukker, Sugar Erskine
scored the only goal as Coca-Cola took the early lead, 1-0. The pace was fast, with runs by each team up
and down the field, but no one seemed to be able to finish their plays.
Naco Taverna tied it up at 1-1 in the early goings of the
second period on a great individual effort, carrying the ball 150 yards down the
field for a score. Julio Arellano
responded for Coca-Cola with a 100 yard shot through the Alegria goal posts and
added a penalty conversion as well.
Julian Mannix answered back for Alegria, with Coca-Cola protecting a 3-2
lead.
In a demonstration of great horsemanship and expert
mallet-work, Erskine scooped up the ball and carried it nearly 180 yards for a
goal to put Coca-Cola in front, 4-2 in the third chukker. Peter Von Gontard found himself on the
receiving end of a pass from Mariano Aguerre as he added another goal to the
Alegria total, 4-3, but Erskine returned the favor to keep Coca-Cola in the
lead, 5-3. The final goal of the chukker
was scored by Mannix on a beautifully executed offside push shot taken at speed
near the backline. Coca-Cola continued
to lead, but the margin remained at a single goal, 5-4 as the first half ended.
Coca-Cola owned the field as the second half of play
began. Arellano opened it with a pair of
goals, the second coming on a play in which he carried the ball nearly 280
yards down the field for a score.
Erskine closed out the period with a goal from the field and Coca-Cola
extended their lead to four goals, 8-4.
Mannix converted a penalty shot to open the fifth chukker
and added a goal from the field, cutting the Coca-Cola lead to 8-6. Coca-Cola continued to press the attack,
resulting in Alegria miscues which were capitalized on. Three consecutive penalty conversions from
Arellano had Coca-Cola in front, 11-6.
Mannix ended the chukker with a penalty goal, but continued to trail by
four goals, 11-7.
Gillian Johnston took a pass from Arellano from the
opening throw-in of the sixth chukker and scored to put Coke up, 12-7. Arellano scored a goal from the field, and
Coca-Cola boasted a six goal lead, 13-7.
Aguerre got Alegria back into the scoring column with a goal from the
field and Mannix added a penalty goal.
Naco Taverna added a final goal as time expired and Coca-Cola celebrated
the 13-10 win and a date with Valiente I Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals
of the 2012 Ylvisaker Cup.
Arellano led all scoring with eight goals-four from the
field and four on penalty shots. Erskine
added four goals to the mix and Johnston chipped in a goal in the win.
Mannix accounted for six Alegria goals. Taverna scored twice and Aguerre and Von Gontard
each scored once.