By Alex Webbe
Pony Express took an early lead but couldn’t keep the pressure on as Equuleus managed to score a last second goal in a 10-9 win in the semifinals of the 2012 George Haas Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington Monday afternoon.
Pony Express scored the first three goals of the game before Equuleus even got started, but lost their rhythm in the ensuing chukkers.
Nick Snow scored the first goal of the game followed by a goal from the field from Tomas Goti and a penalty goal from Juan Garcia Grossi for a 3-1 Pony Express lead. Paco de Narvaez managed to get Equuleus on the scoreboard before the horn ended the first chukker with Pony Express holding a 2-1 advantage.
Brandon Phillips stroked a backhander through the Pony Express goal posts for Equuleus and Mariano Gonzalez added a penalty goal on a 40-yard shot. A resolute defense held Pony Express scoreless in the second period and Equuleus managed to cut the lead to a single goal, 4-3.
Gonzalez scored on a penalty shot in the first two minutes of the third chukker, and added a goal from the field in the final minute of play. Pony Express was held scoreless for the second consecutive chukker as Equuleus first tied and then took the lead in a 5-4 game.
De Narvaez carried the ball the length of the field before leaving on the doorstep of the Pony Express goal in the opening minutes of the second half. Gonzalez pounced on the ball and drove it through the goal posts for a two goal, 6-4, Equuleus lead. Snow finally got the Pony Express offense going with a backhander that carried through the goal posts as the goal cut the Equuleus lead to a single goal, 6-5. With :45 left in the chukker, Gonzalez scored his fifth goal of the game, ending the chukker with Equuleus in front of a 7-5 score.
Pony Express turned the tables on Equuleus in the opening minutes of the fifth chukker, pressing their attack and causing fouls by the defending players. Three consecutive penalty conversions from Goti had Pony Express ahead, 8-7, with less than two minutes left in the period. Phillips tied it up at 8-8 when he followed up on a 220 yard run down the field by Gonzalez, and scored the tying goal, 8-8.
At 6:05 of the final chukker, Gonzalez converted a go-ahead penalty shot for Equuleus, but Pony Express fought their way back into the game. With just over two minutes left in regulation time, Grossi tied it up at 9-9. Both teams struggled for control of the ball in the waning seconds of play, with Gonzalez coming up with the winning play. Weaving through the Pony Express defenders, Gonzalez lofted the ball through the Pony Express goal posts for the winning score in the 10-9 contest.
Gonzalez’s seven goals were the game high. Phillips scored twice and de Narvaez added a goal in the win.
Goti led the Pony Express attack with four goals. Snow and Grossi scored two goals apiece and the team received one goal by handicap.