By Alex Webbe
After falling behind 3-0, Orchard Hill revved up its high-power offense to score a 13-10 win over a Pony Express team that just couldn’t hold the lead in the opening game of the 2009 United States Open Championship at the International Polo Club in Wellington Friday afternoon.
Pony Express drew first blood, with goals from Nick Roldan and Pelon Sterling posting a 2-0 lead after the opening chukker of play.
Roldan’s second goal began the second chukker for a 3-0 lead before Orchard Hill ever got on the board. A penalty conversion by Orchard Hill 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough was answered by Roldan’s third goal of the game. MacDonough closed out the period with two consecutive goals to trail Pony Express 4-3 after two chukkers of play.
“We just decided that we were going to play six chukkers of polo, not make too many mistakes and keep pressing,” said Orchard Hill 7-goaler Hector Galindo.
Roldan capitalized on a penalty shot in the third chukker to give Pony Express a 5-3 lead, but Orchard Hill was just getting started. Goals from MacDonough and Galindo tied the game at 5-5 to end the first half.
“We were comfortable with our play in the first half,” added Galindo, “we kept with the same game plan when we returned to the field in the fourth chukker.”
This time it was MacDonough who opened the period with a penalty goal to take a one goal lead, followed by a goal from the field from Lucas Criado to put Orchard Hill up
7-5, but Pony Express wasn’t ready to give up yet.
Roldan found a streaking Bob Daniels downfield and connected with him on a beautifully placed pass that was carried through the goal posts. Roldan came back to score as time expired and the game was all even at 7-7.
MacDonough scored the first goal of the fifth chukker but was countered by two goals from Matias Magrini, and Pony Express retook the lead, 9-8. Galindo tied the game at 9-9 as he connected on a penalty shot for a goal. MacDonough’s seventh goal of the game allowed Orchard Hill to leave the field after five chukkers of play with a narrow 10-9 advantage.
A stunned Pony Express team took to the field for the final chukker of play as the Argentine 10-goaler MacDonough quickly scored two goals for Orchard Hill. A beautifully placed shot at goal by Galindo traveled over 90 yards to give Orchard Hill a 13-9 edge as Pony Express struggled to regain momentum.
A final goal by Stirling got Pony Express in double digits and time expired with Orchard Hill (1-0) on the winning end of a 13-10 score.
U. S. Open action continues on Saturday with an 11am game between this year’s C. V. Whitney Cup championship Audi team and a Carlos Gracida-led Zacara foursome.