By Alex Webbe
Bendabout 10-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada scored his seventh goal of the game in “sudden-death” overtime in a 12-11 win over Pony Express in the opening match of the 2008 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Wednesday afternoon.
Gillian Johnston, Bendabout’s team captain, didn’t have much luck from the field in the early goings as she missed on runs at the Pony Express goal, but she sure came alive when it counted. Johnston scored the tying goal on a breakaway after Bendabout fought its way back from a four-goal deficit in the fifth chukker. She added icing to the cake in the overtime period as she was responsible for breaking the ball free and sending it down field to Astrada who nursed it through the goal posts for the win.
On the strength of Tomas Goti and Matias Machado, Pony Express held the lead for most of the game.
Although Miguel Novillo Astrada opened the game with a Bendabout goal, Pony Express countered with goals from Goti (a converted Penalty 2) and Machado. Miguel converted a penalty shot for Bendabout to tie the game, but Machado’s second goal of the chukker ended first chukker play with Pony Express on top of a 3-2 lead.
Orrin Ingram’s first goal of the game tied it in the second period until goals from Bob Daniels and Machado pushed the Pony Express lead to two goals, 5-3.
Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored the first goal of the third chukker, which was quickly answered by Goti. A penalty conversion from Miguel Novillo Astrada ended the first half with Pony Express ahead, 6-5.
A three goal fifth chukker gave Pony Express an enviable 11-7 lead with only seven-and- a-half minutes of regulation time remaining, but Bendabout returned to the field a determined force in the sixth period.
Goals from Alejandro Novillo Astrada (a penalty conversion) were followed by goals from his brother Miguel Novillo Astrada, Orrin Ingram and Johnston to force the overtime period.
Both teams returned with fresh mounts, and it was Pony Express that initially pressed the attack. Defense turned to offense as Johnston broke the ball free to Miguel Novillo Astrada who carried it half of the length of the field for the winning goal.
Miguel Novillo Astrada led all scoring with seven goals, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Ingram scored two goals apiece and Johnston scored once in the win.
Goti led the Pony Express team with five goals. Machado scored three times while 10-goaler Matias Magrini was held to only two goals on the day. Pony Express patron, Bob Daniels, scored a single goal.
Ylvisaker Cup play will continue Thursday with Skeeterville playing Patagones at noon, followed by a contest between Black Watch and Bud Light/ERG at 3pm.