Argentine 9-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada scored eleven goals in leading Longfield to the 14-10 win in the Rocky Mountain Open.
Maybe it’s the thin air in the Rocky Mountains or maybe it’s just the intensity of the tournament itself but over 20 goals were scored Thursday morning at the Aspen Valley Polo Club as Longfield (Hannah Buchan, Melissa Ganzi, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Juan Bollini) beat a talented KIG team (Bash Kazi, Alejandro Gonzalez, Nic Roldan and Marc Ganzi) 14-10 in the 2014 Rocky Mountain Polo Championship.
Nic Roldan scored the first goal of the day from the field, 1-0. Miguel Novillo Astrada countered with a penalty goal, 1-1. Roldan added another goal from the field, 2-1; and Astrada added two more penalty goals to end the chukker with Longfield on top of a 3-2 score.
Roldan added another goal in the second period but was countered by a pair of penalty conversions from Astrada and a field goal from Juan Bollini. After two chukkers of play, KIG trailed by three goals, 6-3.
Hannah Buchan opened the third chukker with a goal from the field that was answered by penalty goals from Marc Ganzi and Nic Roldan. Roldan ended the chukker with a goal from the field but it was Longfield on the winning end of a 7-6 score at the end of the first half.
Longfield took control of the game in the fourth period. Shutout defense was combined with two goals from Astrada and a penalty conversion from Melissa Ganzi extended the lead to four goals, 10-6.
KIG fought their way back with single goals from Roldan (penalty goal), marc Ganzi and Bash Kazi, but a pair of goals from Astrada netted them just a single goal. Longfield left the field at the end of the fifth chukker with a 12-9 advantage.
Roldan opened the sixth chukker with a goal from the field, 12-10, but that was where their attack stalled. Two more goals from Astrada gave the game to Longfield, 14-10.
Astrada led all scoring with eleven goals. Buchan, Melissa Ganzi and Bollini each scored once for the win. Roldan’s seven goals let the KIG attack. Marc Ganzi added two goals and Kazi scored once in a losing effort.