By Alex Webbe
Isla Carroll’s Marcos di Paola led all scorers with seven goals, but it was Jeff Hall’s fourth goal of the game in sudden-death overtime that was the winning shot as Orchard Hill beat Isla Carroll 12-11 in the first round of the 26-goal Hall of Fame Cup Saturday morning at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
In a close match that was tied after the first and second chukkers, Isla Carroll managed to take a 7-6 lead to the sidelines at the end of the first half.
A regrouped Orchard Hill returned to the field with a vengeance in the fourth chukker, however, scoring four unanswered goals. Lucas Criado scored twice and single goals from Hector Galindo and Jeff Hall gave Orchard a 10-7 lead.
Isla Carroll tightened its defense in the fifth period, keeping Orchard Hill off the scoreboard while cutting the lead to a single goal. 10-9, after scoring two more goals from Marcos di Paola.
Jeff Hall’s third goal of the game made it 11-8 Orchard Hill, but goals from Isla Carroll’s Facundo Pieres and di Paola tied it in regulation play.
A minute into overtime, Hector Galindo scooped up the ball and broke toward the Isla Carroll goal, his second shot was too strong and it appeared that the ball would be going out of bounds when Galindo managed to backhand it to teammate Hall.
“It was a great pass,” said Hall, “I picked it up about thirty yards from the goal and dribbled it through the posts for the win.”
Hall and Galindo led the balanced Orchard Hill attack with four goals apiece, Lucas Criado scored three times and team captain Steve Van Andel added a goal for the win.
Marcos di Paola scored seven goals for Isla Carroll. Teammate Facundo Pieres scored three times and Magoo Laprida added a single goal.
Orchard Hill (1-0) will return to Hall of Fame Cup action on Wednesday, April 16 with a 10 am match with Bendabout (1-0).