Isla Carroll Downs BTA 12-9
By Alex Webbe
From Owen Rinehart’s first goal of the game until the final minutes of play, Isla Carroll knew it had a fight on its hands as it outlasted BTA 12-9 in the semifinals of the Herbie Pennell Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington Wednesday afternoon.
In a slow start, Isla Carroll held on to a 2-1 lead after the first seven-and-a-half minutes of play only to trail 4-3 at the end of the second chukker as BTA patron Kelly Beal scored twice and Hector Galindo delivered on another shot at goal for the lead.
“It was an up and down the field struggle for both teams,†said BTA’s Jeff Blake. “There were opportunities for both teams throughout the game.â€
Galindo scored again in the third chukker but was countered on a goal from Isla Carroll team captain John Goodman, and BTA left the field with a 5-4 advantage at the end of the first half.
Isla Carroll returned to the field in the fourth chukker with renewed enthusiasm. Consecutive goals from Rinehart and Sugar Erskine gave Isla Carroll a 6-5 lead, but Galindo’s third goal of the game knotted it up at 6-6 as the period ended.
Kelly Beal was forced to leave the game as a previously injured shoulder prevented him from continuing and was replaced by his daughter K. C.
Isla Carroll took a two goal lead in the fifth as Todd Offen scored twice and Erskine added another goal. BTA was held to a single goal by Jeff Blake, and trailed by two goals, 9-7.
Offen’s third goal of the game pushed Isla Carroll out in front 10-7 before BTA fought back with goals from Pablo Spinacci and K. C. Beal, cutting the Isla Carroll lead to a single goal, 10-9. Erskine finally shut the door on BTA, however, scoring the last two goals of the game for the 12-9 win.
Sugar Erskine led all scoring with five goals. Todd Offen and Owen Rinehart scored three goals apiece and John Goodman added a single goal in the win.
Kelly Beal and Hector Galindo each scored three goals for BTA. Jeff Blake, Pablo Spinacci and K. C. Beal added single goals in a losing effort.
Isla Carroll will wait for the outcome of Thursday’s other Pennell Cup semifinal match between San Saba and EFG Bank.
Following the 11 am Pennell Cup game, Audi will meet Lechuza Caracas in the first of the Iglehart Cup semifinals at 1 pm followed by a Patagones-Lucchese contest that will decide the other Iglehart Cup finalist.