Lechuza One Captures Everglades Classic
By Alex Webbe
Lechuza One got an early 2-1 start and never surrendered the lead in its 10-8 win over Valiente in the finals of the 16-goal Everglades Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Lechuza One got opening goals from Gaston Lisioli (penalty goal) and Robert Orthwein with Valiente responding with a single goal from Robert Jornayvaz.
Lechuza got two more goals in the second with Lisioli scoring his second goal of the game while Toto Collardin scored his first goal of the match. The Lechuza One lead was extended to three goals, 4-1, as the chukker ended.
Valiente got back into the game in the third chukker with goals from Santiago Bottarro and Jeff Hall. Lisioli closed out the period with his third goal on the day for a 5-3 Lechuza lead at the end of the first half of play.
Jornayvaz scored the only goal of the fourth chukker, as defense was the byword of the period. The goal cut the Lechuza One lead to a single goal, 5-4.
Valiente got two more goals in the fifth chukker from Hall, but Lechuza One responded with four goals of their own. Collardin added two goals and Lechuza One got single goals from Lisioli and Marcos Alberdi. The fifth chukker ended with Lechuza One holding a 9-6 lead over Valiente.
Hall opened the final chukker with a goal from the field. Collardin added a goal for Lechuza One and Hall closed out the game with a penalty goal in the 10-9 Lechuza One win.
Collardin scored four goals in the win and was named MVP for his efforts, his mare, Nina Milli, received Best Playing Pony honors.