Escobar Leads EFG to OT Win
By Alex Webbe
Luis Escobar scored the winning goal for EFG Bank in overtime to score a 9-8 win over Isla Carroll in the Iglehart Cup at the International Polo Club at Wellington Friday afternoon.
“I knew all along that we were going to win,†said Escobar after the game, “a mistake was the only way we could lose it, and they were the ones that made the mistake first.â€
Escobar opened the scoring in the game with a first chukker goal, but Isla Carroll quickly answered with three goals. Sugar Erskine scored one goal from the field and another by a penalty shot. Owen Rinehart scored Isla Carroll’s third goal of the period as time expired for the 3-1 lead.
Escobar added another goal to the EFG Bank total, but single goals from Erskine and Rinehart had Isla Carroll ahead 5-2 going into the third chukker.
Erskine’s third goal of the game put Isla Carroll ahead 6-2 before another goal from Escobar got EFG Bank on the scoreboard just before the end of the first half.
“I felt like we found our groove at the end of the third chukker,†said EFG Bank team captain Jim Whisenand. “I thought Jeff (Hall) had settled into the lineup and that our persistence, focus and execution would carry us through.â€
Eight-goaler Jeff Hall was filling in for EFG Bank’s Julio Arellano, who suffered a broken hand in a practice with the US Polo Team on Wednesday.
EFG Bank opened the fourth chukker aggressively, forcing Isla Carroll into penalty situations that netted them two goals from Escobar. Escobar added another from the field with Whistle Uys chipping another goal. The EFG Bank defense had also strengthened, allowing Isla Carroll only a single goal from Erskine. The score was now even at 7-7.
Uys accounted for the only scoring of the fifth period, giving EFG Bank its first lead of the game since the opening chukker while the defense shut down Isla Carroll for the first time all afternoon.
Play carried from one end of the field to the other in the sixth frame, with both teams giving the other few scoring opportunities. EFG Bank fouled twice in the period, but errant penalty shots kept it all even at eight goals apiece as regulation time expired.
As overtime action began, Isla Carroll was the first to make a mistake. A penalty shot was awarded to EFG Bank, and a usually sure shooting Luis Escobar lofted the shot high but wide.
The direction of the play was reversed and this time it was EFG Bank that made the error. Sugar Erskine lined up for the relatively easy 30-yard shot, but swirling winds carried the shot wide, and play continued.
EFG Bank took control of the ensuing knock-in can and carried it down the field. The Umpire sounded a whistle, and EFG Bank was awarded another penalty shot. On Escobar’s second trip to the penalty line his shot was true and EFG Bank took the 9-8 win.
Luis Escobar led all scoring with seven goals. Whistle Uys scored twice in the win.
Sugar Erskine scored six goals for Isla Carroll. Owen Rinehart accounted for two goals.