Equuleus Stops Lechuza 8-7
By Alex Webbe
Equuleus improved its record to 2-0 Friday afternoon in Ylvisaker Cup play at the International Polo Club in an 8-7 win over Victor Vargas and his highly-respected Lechuza Caracas lineup.
Both teams struggled with their offenses in the opening chukker, with Gaston Lisioli converting a penalty shot for a goal from Lechuza before Mariano Gonzalez scored on a penalty shot for Equuleus to tie it up at 1-1.
Gonzalez converted a penalty shot for a 2-1 Equuleus lead in the second chukker before Guille Aguerro was severely fouled, resulting in a tumble to the ground and a rare Penalty 1, or automatic goal for Lechuza, and a 2-2 tier.
Equuleus began to look more fluid as the period wore on, taking advantage of Lechuza fouls to take the lead on two more penalty conversions from Gonzalez. The chukker ended with Equuleus holding a 4-2 lead.
Both defenses tightened in the third with Adam Snow scoring the only goal of the chukker for a 5-2 halftime lead.
Lechuza continued to misfire in the fourth, with Vargas missing on goals shots that he normally makes, and teammates committing unnecessary fouls. Lisioli scored the first goal from the field for Lechuza, but Equuleus responded with goals from Snow and Gonzalez (penalty shot). Equuleus extended its lead to four goals, 7-3.
Gonzalez opened the fifth period with his sixth goal of the game on a shot from the field. Toto Collardin answered for Lechuza with a goal, and the period ended with Equuleus leading, 8-4.
Lechuza seemed to be ready to play in the final chukker, but showed up with too little too late.
A pair of penalty goals from Lisioli and a goal from Aguerro brought Lechuza (0-1) to within a goal of Equuleus, 8-7, when time ran out.
Ylvisaker cup will continue on Saturday with a 1 pm game between Lucchese (2-0) and Mt. Brilliant (1-0) followed by a 3 pm contest between Faraway (0-2) and Valiente (0-1).