Devon/Willow beat EFG Bank 9-6
By Alex Webbe
Devon/Willow ran up a 7-5 halftime lead before coasting to a 9-6 win over EFG Bank Sunday afternoon in the final round of play in the 2011 Alligator Challenge at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
EFG Bank received one goal by handicap and added three more in the opening chukker to take an early 4-3 lead. A pair of goals from Diogo Gallego and a single goal from Luis Escobar were answered by Devon/Willow goals from Scott Devon, Rob Stenzel and Brandon Phillips.
Shutout defense coupled with goals from Phillips and Robbie Egan in the second chukker had Devon/Willow up 5-4.
Cecelia Cochrane scored the opening goal of the third chukker for EFG Bank, but Devon/Willow responded with goals from Stenzel and Phillips as Devon/Willow rode off with a 7-5 halftime advantage.
Stenzel and Robbie Egan scored singe goals for Devon/Willow in the fourth while EFG Bank had trouble finding any way through the opposing defense. The chukker ended with Devon/Willow holding a four goal, 9-5 advantage. Gallego scored his third goal of the game for EFG Bank in the fifth chukker, but that would be the final goal of the match. A scoreless sixth chukker would give the game to Devon/Willow, 9-6.
Phillips and Stenzel led the Devon/Willow attack with three goals apiece. Egan scored twice and Devon accounted for a goal in the win.
Gallego scored three times for EFG Bank. Cochran and Escobar added single goals and the team received one goal by handicap.