Ellerstina
beats La Dolfina in Tortugas Open, 12-11
By
Alex Webbe
Defense was the byword in the opening chukkers of
Thursday afternoon’s Tortugas Open finals with La Dolfina taking a 1-0 lead
after the opening chukker and Ellerstina tying it up at 1-1 to end the second.
Ellerstina scored four consecutive goals in the third
with Nico Pieres giving them a 5-1 lead.
Cambiaso converted a penalty shot to end the period with a three goal,
5-2 advantage.
Fourth chukker goals from Pablo MacDonough and Pelon
Stirling cut the Ellerstina lead to a single goal, 5-4 before La Dolfina tied
it up to end the period all even at 5-5.
Mariano Aguerre scored the opening goal of the fifth as Ellerstina
took back the lead, 6-5. Two minutes
later Juan Martin Nero scored to knot it up at 6-6. Facundo Pieres converted a penalty goal to
give Ellerstina the lead once again, 7-6.
Cambiaso is hit in the shoulder with a mallet and the
clock stops. As they are looking for a
replacement for him (Lucas James or Santiago Chavanne), he returns to the field
and play resumes. Stirling scored the
final goal of the chukker to even it out at 7-7.
Two minutes into the sixth chukker Nero scores a beautifully executed goal to
give La Dolfina an 8-7 advantage. Cambiaso
converts a penalty shot for a score and a 9-7 La Dolfina lead. Ellerstina responds with three straight goals
for a 10-9 edge to end the chukker.
Beautiful teamwork as Facundo feeds Gonzalito who scores to put Ellerstina
up, 11-9 in the seventh and final chukker of play. Facundo Pieres scores again
on a well-placed shot at goal and Ellerstina stretches the lead to three goals,
12-9. Juan Martin Nero cuts the lead
with a goal from the field. Ellerstina is still ahead, 12-10. A final goal from La Dolfina ends the game
with Ellerstina winning the 2012 Tortugas Open, 12-11.