La Alegria Takes Hampton Cup, 11-6
By Alex Webbe
Freddie Mannix Jr. scored seven goals Sunday at the Bridgehampton Polo Club as La Alegria rolled over Great Oaks in an 11-6 romp before the season ending crowd of the New York high-goal season.
Mannix scored two goals in the opening chukker of the contest and teammate Mariano Aguerre added a goal as La Alegria jumped out to an early 3-2 lead after the first seven-and-a-half minutes of play. Single goals from Paul Pieres and Tomas Garcia Del Rio kept Great Oaks in the mix as the period ended with La Alegria holding a one goal lead.
Three more goals from Mannix in the second chukker (two on penalty shots and one from the field) were coupled with shutout defense as La Alegria continued to build momentum, extending its lead to four goals, 6-2.
Pieres and Garcia Del Rio added single goals again in the third chukker, while stemming the La Alegria attack, and the lead was cut to a pair of goals, 6-4, at the end of the first half.
Horsepower began to show in the second half as La Alegria continued to pound the ball up and down the field. Pieres scored a goal from the field, but costly errors afforded La Alegria three penalty shots. Mannix and Aguerre each converted a penalty shot, and La Alegria led Great Oaks 8-5 after the fourth period of play.
Pieres added another goal to the Great Oaks total in the fifth, with Aguerre countering with another penalty conversion. The period ended with La Alegria holding a comfortable 9-6 advantage going into the final chukker of play.
The final chukker belonged to the domineering La Alegria team, with Aguerre and Mannix adding single goals while a frustrated Great Oaks offense found itself unable to score a single goal in the final seven minutes of the game.
As the final horn sounded, La Alegria celebrated the 11-6 win and their second consecutive tournament championship of the season.
Mannix led all scoring with seven goals. Aguerre added four for the win.
Pieres provided four goals for the Great Oaks effort with Garcia Del Rio accounting for a pair of goals in a losing effort.
Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre was named Most Valuable Player. Aguerre’s horse, Donali, was named Best Playing Pony.