Equuleus
wins in final seconds
By
Alex Webbe
Pony Express took an early lead but couldn’t keep the
pressure on as Equuleus managed to score a last second goal in a 10-9 win in
the semifinals of the 2012 George Haas Cup at the International Polo Club in
Wellington Monday afternoon.
Pony Express scored the first three goals of the game
before Equuleus even got started, but lost their rhythm in the ensuing
chukkers.
Nick Snow scored the first goal of the game followed by a
goal from the field from Tomas Goti and a penalty goal from Juan Garcia Grossi
for a 3-1 Pony Express lead. Paco de
Narvaez managed to get Equuleus on the scoreboard before the horn ended the
first chukker with Pony Express holding a 2-1 advantage.
Brandon Phillips stroked a backhander through the Pony
Express goal posts for Equuleus and Mariano Gonzalez added a penalty goal on a
40-yard shot. A resolute defense held
Pony Express scoreless in the second period and Equuleus managed to cut the
lead to a single goal, 4-3.
Gonzalez scored on a penalty shot in the first two
minutes of the third chukker, and added a goal from the field in the final
minute of play. Pony Express was held
scoreless for the second consecutive chukker as Equuleus first tied and then
took the lead in a 5-4 game.
De Narvaez carried the ball the length of the field
before leaving on the doorstep of the Pony Express goal in the opening minutes
of the second half. Gonzalez pounced on
the ball and drove it through the goal posts for a two goal, 6-4, Equuleus
lead. Snow finally got the Pony Express
offense going with a backhander that carried through the goal posts as the goal
cut the Equuleus lead to a single goal, 6-5.
With :45 left in the chukker, Gonzalez scored his fifth goal of the
game, ending the chukker with Equuleus in front of a 7-5 score.
Pony Express turned the tables on Equuleus in the opening
minutes of the fifth chukker, pressing their attack and causing fouls by the
defending players. Three consecutive
penalty conversions from Goti had Pony Express ahead, 8-7, with less than two
minutes left in the period. Phillips
tied it up at 8-8 when he followed up on a 220 yard run down the field by
Gonzalez, and scored the tying goal, 8-8.
At 6:05 of the final chukker, Gonzalez converted a
go-ahead penalty shot for Equuleus, but Pony Express fought their way back into
the game. With just over two minutes
left in regulation time, Grossi tied it up at 9-9. Both teams struggled for control of the ball
in the waning seconds of play, with Gonzalez coming up with the winning
play. Weaving through the Pony Express
defenders, Gonzalez lofted the ball through the Pony Express goal posts for the
winning score in the 10-9 contest.
Gonzalez’s seven goals were the game high. Phillips scored twice and de Narvaez added a
goal in the win.
Goti led the Pony Express attack with four goals. Snow and Grossi scored two goals apiece and
the team received one goal by handicap.