Mariano Aguerre scored 11 goals and led White Birch to a 14-12 victory over Cinque Terre in the Thomas Glynn Memorial tournament. Aguerre, who had seven goals on penalty shots, and who scored in every chukker, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
The game was close for much of the first half, and was tied 5-5 early in the third chukker. Two penalty shots were made by Aguerre, for a 7-5 White Birch lead. Then, with 10 seconds left in the third chukker, Andres Weisz connected on a penalty shot to make it 7-6.
In the fourth Weisz literally picked up a ball that was sitting on the side of the Cinque Terre goal post and carried it all the way downfield to score. He was riding his fleet black mare Luisa, who was to be named Best Playing Pony for the day. A penalty conversion by Chino Fraysinnet gave Cinque Terre an 8-7 lead. Off the subsequent throw in, Magoo LaPrida took possession of the ball, and rushed ahead of the field for a 9-7 lead. Only a few seconds were left in the chukker when Aguerre made a penalty shot, cutting it to 9-8.
In the fifth, Aguerre had a hat trick, including two field goals. Weisz had Cinque Terre’s lone goal on a penalty conversion.
The sixth chukker began with beautiful team work by White Birch. Aguerre grabbed the ball, and sent a high fly to Santiago Torres, who grabbed the airborne ball, and carried in up to score. Aguerre soon broke away from the field and scored, giving White Birch a 12-10 lead.
Cinque Terre, and its good string of horses continued to fight on. Fraysinnet demonstrated good horsemanship and ball control, running south to north, and then down towards goal to score, cutting it to 13-11. He then made a penalty shot, and it was 31-12. As they did the majority of the day, White Birch won the throw in, a foul was called on Cinque Terre, and Aguerre knocked in the penalty shot.
CINQUE TERRE: Alessandro Bazzoni (0), Magoo LaPrida (7), Andres Weisz (6), Chino Fraysinnet (7) =20
WHITE BIRCH: Santiago Torres (2), Martin Aguerre (4), Mariano Aguerre (10), Miguel Torres (4) =20