Lechuza Drops Las Monjitas 11-7 in Rain Delayed Game
By Alex Webbe
For the second time in less than a week rains interrupted play in the 2009 USPA Piaget Gold Cup competition at the International Polo Club in
Overcast skies greeted the teams for the 4pm match, which was controlled in the early stages by Lechuza.
Two goals from Lechuza 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero were complimented by shutout defense as the first chukker ended with Las Monjitas trailing 2-0.
A cross between a heavy mist and a light rain arrived in time for the second chukker. Sapo Caset converted a penalty shot to make it 3-0 before Nacho Astrada responded with the first goal of the day for Las Monjitas in a 3-1 contest.
The play heated up in the third chukker as the rain began to come down harder.
Caset opened the scoring by converting a penalty shot for Lechuza but Las Monjitas’ Nacho Astrada answered with a penalty conversion of his own. Nicolas Espain’s goal from the field for Lechuza was countered by another penalty goal from Astrada, and the rain increased.
Lechuza team captain Victor Vargas carried through the final goal of the first half for the 6-3 score, and play was suspended.
At the half, Caset and Nero had each scored two goals while teammates Vargas and Espain chipped in single goals for the lead.
Nine-goaler Nacho Astrada accounted for all three of Las Monjitas’ goals.
“They’re a very tough team,†said Lechuza coach, Roberto Gonzalez of the Las Monjitas lineup, “they never stop fighting. We’ll just have to see how things go when we get to finish this.â€
The club polo manager conferred with the umpires and the field supervisor before suspending play at the end of the first half.
“We’ve got the last three chukkers of the game scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10am,†said IPC Polo Manager Jimmy Newman.
Ray Mooney, IPC’s Director of Facilities, was probably the only smiling face on the field.
“The South Florida Water Management District said that this was the third driest winter since they began taking records in 1932,†he said. “I don’t mind getting the rain but we sure want to get these games in.â€
When play resumed on Sunday at 11am, Lechuza picked up where they left off, outscoring Las Monjitas 5-4 in the second half for the 11-7 win.
The victory catapults Lechuza into a 5pm semifinal game against Pony Express.