Valiente edges Aspen Oaks in 12-goal Skins League
By Diane Hensley
INDIO – Santiago Bottaro pulled Valiente out of the depths of defeat Sunday scoring three straight goals in the fifth for the turnaround to edge Aspen Oaks 10-9 in the featured afternoon match at Eldorado Polo Club.
Valiente handed Aspen Oaks its third consecutive loss in month-long Skins 12-goal league while lifting the team to second place in the standings along with High Prairie, Palm Desert and the Hawks, each with a 2-1 record. At the top is Windsor Capital with three straight wins and Cotterel Farms is in third with a win and two losses. Duende and Aspen Oaks trail with 0-3 records.
A strong early showing by No. 2 Juan Corbelo and the entire Aspen Oaks lineup racked up a solid five-goal lead at 6-1 by the end of the second chukker. Valiente’s lone goal was a penalty two conversion hit in by Roberto Zedda.
Before the half, Valiente’s quarterback Bottaro engineered a steady comeback, corraling Aspen Oaks No. 3 Fernando Pliego and Corbelo, forcing errors and errant shots on goal that couldn’t find their mark. The lead narrowed to 8-4. Valiente’s full field defense shut down all scoring by Aspen Oaks in the fourth and fifth as Bottaro and patron Bob Jornayvas added a pair of field goals cutting the deficit to two.
But the fifth chukker changed momentum and pace for Aspen Oaks they would never regain. Bottaro singlehandedly made three back-to-back goals—a 90-yard offside on a breakaway, and then tied the match on a turnover, backing the ball more than 60 yards through the post with 3:48 remaining. He scored on an offensive drive from Aspen Oaks territory, connecting with a pass from Zedda and maneuvering through the pack for a short shot on target with 30 seconds remaining.
Facing sudden death overtime, Aspen Oaks Pliego reacted quickly in the sixth out of the line-up, tying the teams 9-9 on his break for goal with 7:06 left on the clock. Trading possessions, and penalties, Valiente allowed Aspen Oaks’ Pliego just one shot on goal that bounced out midway through the chukker. Valiente’s Alvaro Tadeo didn’t miss his opportunity, connecting with Zedda’s 40-yard pass for a short tap-in and the go-ahead goal. A line foul by Jornayvas gave Aspen Oaks a final chance at overtime, but with 22 seconds left to play, the drive to goal from the penalty five on their 80-yard line failed on Pliego’s Hail Mary shot that bounced off course.
The Skins League teams will split into two separate tournaments after weekend match-ups, sending four teams with the best record to the Skins Game who will play in the quarterfinals and the remaining four teams to the Desert Classic. The Classic and the annual Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Skins Game will be played Sunday March 30 at Eldorado Polo Club, officials said.
The Governor’s Cup action begins Friday and the finals match is also scheduled Mar. 30.