La Casa Hermosa captures Freebooters Classic Opener
By
Alex Webbe
La Casa Hermosa galloped out to a 4-2 first chukker lead
before holding on to defeat Altair 9-8 in the opening game of the 14-goal
Freebooters Cup at the International Polo Club Wednesday afternoon.
Julio Gracida scored the first goal of the game on a 60-yard
penalty conversion followed by a goal from the field from Carlitos
Gracida. La Casa Hermosa responded with
two goals from the field from Brad Blake and a pair of penalty conversions for
goals from his brother, Jeff Blake. At
the end of the first chukker of play La Casa Hermosa held a two goal 4-2 lead.
Another goal from the field from Brad Blake and Chris
Nevins’ penalty goal had La Casa Hermosa on top of a 6-4 score before Altair
got its offense back on track. Carlitos
Gracida scored Altair’s first goal of the second chukker followed by another
penalty conversion from Julio Gracida.
Altair gained no ground on La Casa Hermosa, but managed to keep pace
through the second period.
Jeff Blake scored the first goal of the third chukker for
a brief 7-4 advantage, but Altair capitalized on a foul by La Casa Hermosa and
picked up a penalty goal from Carlos Gracida.
At the end of the first three chukkers of play, La Casa Hermosa rode off
the field with a 7-5 lead.
A revitalized Altair took the field in the fourth, with a
determined defense. For the first time
all afternoon the La Casa Hermosa offense was shut out. Altair couldn’t manage to do the damage it
had hoped for, with Carlos Gracida scoring a single goal. Altair had cut the La Casa Hermosa lead to a
single goal, 7-6.
Brad Blake and Carlos Gracida exchanged penalty goals in
the fifth, with drive after drive being turned away by both teams. With one chukker left to play, La Casa Hermosa
held a narrow one goal lead, 8-7.
After five chukkers of play, the Altair attack started to
look alive. A goal from the field from
Carlitos Gracida had it all even at 8-8, but the comeback was not to be. An Altair foul put Brad Blake at the penalty
line once again where he converted the winning goal, 9-8.
Brad Blake led all scoring with five goals. Jeff Blake scored three times and Nevins
added a goal for the win.
Carlitos Gracida and his father, Carlos Gracida, scored
three goals apiece for Altair. Julio
Gracida added two penalty goals in a losing effort.