By Alex Webbe
Lechuza managed to claw its way back against a talented White Birch team, scoring seven consecutive and unanswered goals to capture the game, 12-10, and a spot in the finals of the finals of the Lechuza Caracas Cup.
“We had early opportunities that we just didn’t capitalize on,” said Lechuza 9-goaler Pite Merlos. “In the second half, we finished the plays,” he added.
Lechuza trailed 8-4 in the fourth chukker before going on a scoring binge to take an 11-8 lead. Lechuza got four goals from Sebastian Merlos, two from brother Pite and two from Nico Espain during the offensive explosion.
“We really weren’t playing that badly,” said Pite Merlos, “we just weren’t putting the ball through the goal posts. It was close, a couple of times a meter or two away, but we just couldn’t score,” he reflected.
Whatever adjustments they made worked. Sebastian Merlos led Lechuza with six goals. Espain added three goals; Pite Merlos scored twice and team captain Victor Vargas scored once in the win.
In the second game of the tournament, Audi remained undefeated, scoring a 15-8 win over La Herradura through teamwork and hustle.
Audi captain Marc Ganzi scored five times in the win that saw Audi jump out to an 8-5 halftime lead. Facundo Pieres and Nacho Figueras added four goals apiece to the Audi romp. Gonzalito Pieres added two goals.
La Herradura’s Julio Gracida led the field with six goals while teammate Kris Kampsen scored twice in the losing effort.
Because of conflicting schedules in the upcoming C. V. Whitney Cup, Audi will meet Lechuza in the cup finals at a time yet to be determined.
