By Alex Webbe
Pony Express took control of the game from the very beginning and delivered a 12-10 win over a talent-laden Zacara foursome in United States Open play Sunday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Jeff Hall put Zacara on the scoreboard first with a penalty conversion that was answered by a goal from the field from Nick Roldan of Pony Express.
Two goals from Matias Magrini were complimented by shutout defense from Pony Express as it went up 3-1 after the second chukker. The two teams started the third chukker trading goals, with Carlos Gracida scoring once from the field and once on a penalty shot. Pony Express countered with three goals from 9-goaler Pelon Stirling and three more goals from Magrini as it moved out to a commanding 9-3 halftime lead.
“We always knew we had it in us,” said Roldan, following the match, “we just needed everyone on the team to have a good game, and we did that today.”
Zacara staged a mini comeback in the fourth, with Gracida scoring twice and Magoo Laprida missing another goal at the bell. In spite of getting blanked, Pony Express held a 9-5 advantage.
Zacara reared up in the fifth period with goals from team captain Lyndon Lea, Hall and Gracida (who scored two) while holding Pony Express to single goals from Stirling and Roldan. The Pony Express lead was cut to two goals, 11-9.
“I think we started playing better when we started passing the ball to one another,” said Pony Express team captain Bob Daniels, “that’s when we’re at our best.”
Daniels took a pass in the final chukker and carried it through the goal to make it 12-9, and quell the Zacara rally.
Hall converted a penalty shot for a goal for Zacara to close out the offense as Pony Express held on for the 12-10 victory.
Wellington’s own Nick Roldan was named MVP while Pelon Stirling’s 9-year-old Argentine mare Cupita received Best Playing Pony honors.
LECHUZA CARACAS 10, LAS MONJITAS 8
In earlier US Open action, Lechuza Caracas (1-1) fought off a late game rally to beat Las Monjitas 10-8 in the second round of the United States Open Championship at the International Polo Club in Wellington Sunday afternoon.
Sapo Caset scored three unanswered goals in the opening chukker to put Lechuza on top 3-0 after the first chukker of play.
Caset added another goal on a penalty shot with Las Monjitas finally getting on the scoreboard as Nacho Astrada converted two penalty shots for Las Monjitas.
Team captain Victor Vargas put his Lechuza team up 5-2 with his first goal of the game in the second chukker but was countered by a single goal from Eduardo Astrada from Las Monjitas. Lechuza sat on top of a 5-3 halftime lead.
Following a brief intermission, the teams returned to the field for Las Monjitas, but could do little offensively. Nacho Astrada scored a single goal from the field while Sapo Caset converted a penalty goal to maintain a two goal lead to end the chukker, 6-4.
The fifth chukker belonged to a resurgent Las Monjitas team. Following an opening penalty goal from Caset, Eduardo Astrada scored for Las Monjitas and brother Nacho Astrada added two of his own. After leading throughout the match, Lechuza found itself tied with Las Monjitas 7-7.
“We knew that if we lost, we were out,” said Caset. “We knew that we had to come back and control the ball.”
Just as Las Monjitas controlled the fifth chukker, Lechuza owned the sixth.
Caset opened the final chukker by converting a tie-breaking penalty shot followed by goals from Victor Vargas and Nacho Astrada for a 10-7 lead.
Las Monjitas continued to pressure the Lechuza Caracas goal, with Nacho Astrada scoring his sixth match goal, and time ran out with Las Monjitas fighting to salvage the game.
US Open play will continue on Saturday, April 18 with Audi (2-0) meeting Pony Express (1-1) at 11 while Orchard Hill (1-1) and Zacara (0-2) face off at 4pm.