By Alex Webbe

Gypsy/Tritech (Suzanne Figi, Ruben Coscia, Gaston Von Wernich and Chris Maloney) scored a 10-7 win over Empire 10 (Eric Hammon, Craig Steinke, Ashton Wolf and Mariano Fassetta) to capture third place in the 8-10 goal Champions Cup Saturday afternoon at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Wolf scored two goals for Empire in the opening chukker while Gypsy/Tritech was held to a single penalty goal from Coscia.  Empire took the early lead, 2-1.

Fassetta scored his first goal of the game in the second chukker for Empire, but two more goals from Coscia tied it up at 3-3.

Coscia opened the third period with his fourth goal of the game.  Empire got goals from Steinke and Wolf (penalty conversion) and rode off the field at the end of the first half with a 5-4 lead.

Both defenses tightened up in the fourth chukker.  The Empire attack was completely shut down while Gypsy/Tritech managed just a single goal from the field from Coscia.  After four chukkers the score was all even at 5-5.

Coscia and Von Wernich scored single goals in the fifth for a 7-5 advantage, but Empire fired back.  A single goal from the field from Fassetta cut the Gypsy/Tritech lead down to a single goal, 7-6 as the chukker ended.

Coscia exploded in the final chukker, scoring three times before Empire could connect.  Two goals from the field and a penalty goal had Gypsy/Tritech on top of a 10-6 score.  Steinke finally managed to break through for an Empire goal, but the die was cast and it was Gypsy/Tritech who finished in the third place Champions Cup money.

Coscia led all scoring with nine goals (two on penalties).  Von Wernich scored the other Gypsy/Tritech goal in the win.

Wolf set the pace for Empire with three goals.  Steinke and Fassetta scored two goals each in a losing effort.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH 9, PARKLANE 8

Rocky Mountain High (Noah Sprung, Roxy Keyfauver, Kimo Huddleston and Cybele Jordan) needed a fifth chukker rally to beat Parklane (Bill Garlock, Remy Muller, Champ Roth and Doug Blumenthal) Saturday afternoon and earn a berth in the Lions Cup 4-goal finals at noon on Sunday.

Parklane got into foul trouble early, and after spotting Rocky Mountain High one goal by handicap, watched Huddleston convert three penalty shots for a 4-0 lead.

Parklane bounced back in the second, scoring four unanswered goals to tie it up at 4-4.  Muller scored three consecutive goals followed up by a goal from the field from Roth.

Muller’s fourth goal of the game had Parklane ahead, 5-4, when Rocky Mountain High responded.  Penalty conversions from Huddleston and Sprung had Rocky Mountain High in front, 6-5, at the end of the third chukker.

Huddleston opened the fourth period with a goal from the field for a 7-5 advantage, but Parklane was ready.  Three straight goals (Muller, Blumenthal and Garlock) ended the chukker with Parklane on top of an 8-7 score.

When the teams returned to the field for the final chukker it was clear that Parklane had spent all of its field currency in the fourth.  Jordan scored once and Huddleston added two more goals (one by penalty) with Parklane unable to score a goal.  Rocky Mountain High had staged a last chukker rally to score three unanswered goals for the 9-8 victory.

Huddleston was high scorer with seven goals (five on penalties).  Sprung and Jordan added single goals in the win.

Muller was credited with five goals for Parklane.  Blumenthal, Garlock and Roth added single goals in the loss.

CELEBRITY RANCH/BLACK DIAMOND 6, EMPIRE 4

Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond (Scott Walker, Stephen Cobb, Santos Arriola and Miguel Gutierrez) captured the 4-goal Champagne Cup with a 6-4 win over Empire (Lee Pettigrew, Rob Scapa, Charlie Peterson and Lolo Payan) Saturday morning.

Pettigrew scored the opening goal for Empire but Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond responded with a pair of goals.  Gutierrez scored first followed by a goal from Stephen Cobb.  Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond took a 2-1 lead after the first chukker of play.

Arriola scored his first goal of the game and the only goal of the second period as both sides had their difficulties finding the range around the goal.  Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond was holding a 3-1 lead going into the third chukker.

Two more Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond goals went unanswered as Cobb and Arriola added single goals from the field.  Empire had dug themselves into a hole, and after three chukkers of play Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond was leading by four goals, 5-1.

Arriola’s third goal of the game had Empire trailing 6-1 before they showed up with any kind of offense.  Peterson scored on a goal from the field and the other on a penalty shot.  The Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond lead was cut to three goals, 6-3, with one chukker left to play.

Lee Pettigrew scored the final goal of the game as the Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond players coasted to the 6-4 win.

Arriola, Cobb and Gutierrez scored two goals apiece in the victory for Celebrity Ranch/Black Diamond.

Pettigrew and Peterson each scored a pair of goals for Empire.

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