Phillips scores winning goal for Goose Creek
By Alex Webbe
A last chukker goal by Goose Creek’s Brandon Phillipssunk the hopes of the MetalTek team Friday morning as they lost 10-9 in 16-goalaction in the Everglades Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Tano Vial put Goose Creek on the scoreboard first with a60-yard penalty conversion, but MetalTek, who received one goal by handicap,moved ahead, 2-1 on a penalty goal from Tommy Biddle.
Second chukker action had MetalTek picking up goals fromWill Johnston and Stevie Orthwein but Goose Creek picked up a pair of goalsfrom Vial to keep them in the mix. Aftertwo chukkers of play, MetalTek continued to lead, 4-3.
Goose Creek scored the first two goals of the thirdchukker, tying it at 4-4 on a goal from Brandon Phillips and taking the lead,5-4, on Vial’s fourth goal of the game. Stevie Orthwein scored the final goal of the period to tie it up at 5-5to end the first half.
A goal from the field by Tommy Biddle opened the fourthchukker with MetalTek on top, 6-5, but the lead was short-lived. Goals from Phillips and Vial had Goose Creekahead at the end of the period, 7-6.
Two more Goose Creek goals in the fifth extended the leadto 9-7 with Vial and Cote Zegers scoring on penalty shots and Biddle respondingwith the only MetalTek goal.
A determined MetalTek team took the field in the sixth;picking up single goals from Biddle and Johnston, but the rally was cut shortby a resilient Goose Creek defense. Phillips sunk the MetalTek hopes with the final goal of the game in the10-9 Goose Creek victory.
Vial led all scoring with six goals. Phillips scored three times and Zegers added agoal in the win.
Biddle was credited with four MetalTek goals. Johnston and Stevie Orthwein scored two goalsapiece and the team received one goal by handicap.