2014 Freebooters Classic Winners-Goose Creek-L to R-Tano Vial, Cote Zegers, Nick Johnson and Maureen Brennan.
(Photo by Alex Pacheco)
For the second straight game Cote Zegers led Goose Creek (Maureen Brennan, Nick Johnson, Cote Zegers and Tano Vial) in scoring as he and his teammates defeated Santa Clara (Francisco Escobar, Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr., Kris Kampsen and Malcolm Borwick) 12-9 in the final of the 14-goal Freebooters Classic at the International Polo Club.
There was little scoring in the opening chukker as both teams felt out one another in the opening minutes of play. Nick Johnson scored the only goal of the chukker as Goose Creek took the early lead, 1-0.
Santa Clara’s Kris Kampsen tied it up at 1-1 as second chukker play got underway. Cote Zegers scored twice, once from the field and the other time on a 40-yard penalty shot. Tano Vial’s first goal of the match had Goose Creek in front, 4-1 at the end of the second.
For the second consecutive chukker Kampsen scored the opening goal, 4-2. Zegers fired back at Santa Clara, scoring three goals in a row as Goose Creek lurched out to a commanding 7-2 lead. English 6-goaler Malcolm Borwick scored the final goal of the first half for Santa Clara, but it was Goose Creek who rode off the field with a four goal, 7-3 advantage.
Santa Clara got fourth chukker goals from Kampsen and Borwick while limiting the Goose Creek attack to a single penalty goal from Zegers. Goals from Goose Creek team captain Maureen Brennan and Zegers were answered by a single goal from Borwick. At the end of five chukkers of play, Goose Creek held an admirable four goal, 10-6 lead.
Santa Clara made a last chukker run at Goose Creek, getting goals from Borwick, Kampsen and Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr. Goose Creek managed single goals from Vial and Zegers (on a 60-yard penalty shot) for the 12-9 win.
Zegers scored eight goals (three on penalty shots) for Goose Creek. Vial was credited with two goals with Brennan and Johnson each scoring a goal for the win. Borwick and Kampsen scored four goals apiece. Gonzalez added a goal in a losing effort.
Cote Zegers was named MVP while his mare, Santita received Best Playing Pony honors.