Port Mayaca scuttles Piaget 13–11 in USPA National Twenty Goal tournament

November 13, 2011 Game Reports 0

Port Mayaca scuttles Piaget 13-11 in USPA National TwentyGoal tournament

By Alex Webbe

 

After seven ties and six lead changes, Port Mayacamanaged to ride past Piaget 13-11 as play continued in the USPA National TwentyGoal tournament at the Grand Champions Polo Club Sunday afternoon inWellington, Florida.

J. J. Celis made it clear that he showed up to play,taking the opening throw-in 150 yards down the field to score Port Mayaca’sfirst goal of the game.  Piaget bouncedback with two goals from Piaget 8-goaler Nic Roldan and a penalty conversionfrom Marc Ganzi for a 3-1 first chukker lead.

Ganzi scored his first goal from the field to open thesecond chukker, giving Piaget a 4-1 lead, but goals from Celis and LeoMandelbaum ended the second period with Port Mayaca trailing by a single goal,4-3.

Celis tied it up with his third goal of the game in thethird and Luis Escobar converted a penalty shot to give Port Mayaca its firstlead of the game.  Roldan responded witha penalty goal for Piaget, however, and the first half ended in a 5-5 tie.

Jeff Hall’s first goal of the game put Piaget back infront, 6-5 in the opening minute of the fourth. Orthwein tied it at 6-6 with a penalty conversion and goals from Celisand Mandelbaum had Port Mayaca leading by two goals, 8-6.  Piaget pressed its attack, resulting in apair of penalties that put Roldan at the line. Two conversions tied it up again at 8-8 as the chukker ended.

Orthwein scored from the field for Port Mayaca, to leadPiaget 9-8, but goals from Hall and Ganzi (penalty conversion) ended the periodwith Piaget leading, 10-9.

The speed and intensity of play increased with everyminute of play, and an inopportune foul allowed Orthwein to level the score at10-10 with a penalty goal.  Following thethrow-in, Port Mayaca carried the ball down toward the Piaget goal whereEscobar slammed the through the goal posts. Another penalty conversion by Escobar had Port Mayaca on top of a 12-10score with just a couple of minutes left to play.  Orthwein’s fourth goal of the game gave PortMayaca a 13-10 edge with precious little time left.  Hall scored the final goal of the game forPiaget, but it was Port Mayaca that would be riding off the field with the13-11 victory.

“They were a very tough team,” said Celis, following thegame.  “It was a very difficult game.”

“It wasn’t an easy win,” added Port Mayaca team captainStevie Orthwein.  “We worked hard forevery goal we got.”

“It was a total team effort,” said 7-goaler LuisEscobar.  “Everyone did their job, everyman played his position.  It was a goodwin,” he smiled.

Orthwein and Celis scored four goals apiece for PortMayaca.  Escobar added three goals andMandelbaum accounted for two goals in the win.

Roldan was credited with five goals for Piaget.  Hall and Ganzi scored three goals apiece.

Tournament play continues on Tuesday, Nov. 15th when Audi (0-1) meets Flat Out (0-0). KIG will play Flat Out on Thursday, Nov. 17th.