Mariano Aguerre was one of only two starting members of the Postage Stamp Farm team to finish the game in a 10-9 win over Villa Del Lago in Sunday’s quarterfinals of the 2017 Ylvisaker Cup
Julio Arellano scored seven times in the Coca-Cola win.
Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Julian de Lusarreta, Julio Arellano and Del Walton) overcame an 8-5 halftime deficit Sunday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Ylvisaker Cup quarterfinal play to record a 16-11 win over Valiente II (Robert Jornayvaz, Matias Torres Zavaleta, Diego Cavanagh and Joaquin Panelo) and earn a trip to Wednesday’s semifinals where they will face Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Lucas Criado, Facundo Pieres and Nico Escobar) in a noon contest. Orchard Hill won a semifinal spot by downing Horseware earlier in the day. Additional wins by Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Mariano Aguerre and Kris Kampsen) and Tonkawa (on Saturday) will fill out Wednesday’s playoff schedule with the two teams facing one another in a 3pm match.
Kris Kampsen left the game after being struck in the cheek with the ball in the sixth chukker.
Coca-Cola took the early lead on goals from Julian de Lusarreta and Wes Finlayson (replacing the injured Del Walton) had them up, 2-0. Robert Jornayvaz kept Valiente II from getting shutout with the final goal of the chukker to trail, 2-1.
Gillian Johnston’s first goal of the day opened the second period and extended the Coca-Cola lead to two goals, 3-1. Diego Cavanagh found his rhythm, however, and with a goal from the field and a 30-yard penalty conversion, tied the game at three goals apiece.
Finlayson and Julio Arellano each added a goal to the Coca-Cola total in the third, but Valiente found its groove. Three goals from Cavanagh and single goals from Joaquin Panelo and Matias Torres Zavaleta ended the first half with Valiente II on top of an 8-5 score.
Cavanagh and Arellano traded penalty goals in the fourth with Cavanagh converting a pair from the 40-yard marker while Arellano scored on to penalty shots from 60-yards out. Johnston’s second goal of the day cut the Valiente II lead down to just two goals at the end of the chukker, 10-8.
Coca-Cola rallied for four fifth period goals with Johnston and de Lusarreta each adding a goal and Arellano converting two more penalty shots. Valiente II received one goal on a Penalty 1 but found themselves trailing, 12-11, with once chukker left in regulation play.
Coca-Cola put the game out of reach for Valiente II with Arellano opening the sixth chukker scoring with a goal from the field and a 30-yad penalty conversion, 14-11. Single goals from de Lusarreta and Finlayson went unanswered as the Coca-Cola defense held the Valiente II attack scoreless in the final seven minutes of the game. When the final horn sounded, it was Coca-Cola with the 16-11 victory.
Postage Stamp Farm team captan Annabelle Gundlach suffered an injury in the opening chukker that had her leaving the game.
Arellano scored five of his team-high seven goals on penalty conversions. Teammates Johnston, Finlayson and de Lusarreta added three goals each for the win. Cavanagh’s seven goals led the Valiente II attack with three of them coming on penalty shots. Jornayvaz, Panelo and Zavaleta each added a goal and the team was awarded a goal on a Penalty 1.
Postage Stamp Farm 10, Villa Del Lago 9
Earlier in the day Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Mariano Aguerre and Kris Kampsen) outlasted Villa del Lago (Jim Zenni, Agustin Obregon, Hilario Ulloa and Carlucho Arellano) in a game that produced 28 fouls and had three players replaced due to injuries.
After a 1-1 opening chukker, Postage Stamp Farm took a 4-2 lead on the strength of three penalty conversions from Kris Kampsen in the second chukker but lost team captain Annabelle Gundlach to an injury. Timmy Dutta was brought in to replace her and the game continued. Postage Stamp Farm extended their lead to four goals in a third period that saw Villa Del Lago team captain Jim Zenni leave the game following an injury (bicep). Harrison Azzaro (son of Mike Azzaro) took his place on the field and the game continued.
Fifth chukker goals from the field from Kampsen and Mariano Aguerre had Postage Stamp Farm in front by six goals, 9-3, and while a pair of goals from 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa helped, the lead remained with Postage Stamp Farm, 10-5. The bad news came when Ulloa tapped I n a penalty shot from midfield and then unloaded on it only to hit Kampsen on the cheek (shattering it) and sending him from the field. Gringo Colombres was recruited from the sidelines, and play continued.
Villa Del Lago staged a sixth chukker rally that resulted in four goals while a dazed and depleted Postage Stamp Farm team held on for the 10-9 win.
Orchard Hill 15, Horseware 10
Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Lucas Criado, Facundo Pieres and Nico Escobar) opened the day with a resounding 15-10 win over Horseware (Matt Coppola, Juan Martin Obregon, Mariano Gracida and Tommy Collingwood) after racing out to a commanding 10-3 halftime lead.
Argentine 10-goaler Facundo Pieres scored six of his game leading nine goals on penalty shots. Nico Escobar and Lucas Criado added two goals each to the win with Duillio Diaz being credited with a goal in the win. Juan Martin Obregon continued to impress, scoring eight of his team’s ten goals (five on penalty conversions). Santi Torres (replacing Tommy Collingwood in the lineup) scored twice in the loss.
The results of this year’s Ylvisaker Cup quarterfinals will see Orchard Hill meeting Coca-Cola in Wednesday’s noon contest followed by a 3pm game between Postage Stamp Farm and Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Sapo Caset, Costi Caset and Facundo Obregon). Tournament finals are scheduled to be played at the International Polo Club at 3pm on Sunday, February 19th.