Smithfield overcame an early deficit and a late scare to advance past Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning in the Ylvisaker Cup at Saratoga Polo on Friday with a final score of 12-10.
Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning started the game off in the lead with a handicap goal, but Smithfield’s Julio Ezcuura was the first person to put the ball between the goalposts to tie it up. Bloomfield responded in kind with a 3-0 run to close out the first with a 4-1 lead.
In the second chukker, it was Smithfield who went on a 3-0 run, getting 2 more from Ezcurra and another from Adam Klopp. Jube Baez put in the third of his 3 scores to close out the chukker to stop the bleeding and retain a one goal margin for Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning. Cuko Escapite and Ezcurra traded scores in the third chukker to close out the half with Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning retaining their one-goal lead.
The second half was a different story, as Smithfield opened it up with yet another 3-0 run to gain the lead. After that run, Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning and Smithfield kept trading goals, but Smithfield held onto a 1-goal lead heading in the sixth and final chukker.
In the sixth, Will Orthwein tied up the score with just a few minutes remaining, but Francisco Bilbao responded with 2 markers to get the lead back for Smithfield to hold on for the win.
Ezcurra finished out the match leading all scorers with 6 goals.
The Ylvisaker Cup continues on Friday, August 4th at 5:30 pm at Saratoga Polo. For more information, call 518-584-8108 or visit saratogapolo.com.
TOTAL GOALS SCORED
Smithfield – 12
Adam Klopp – 2
Julio Ezcurra – 6
Fancisco Balbao – 4
John Klopp – 0
Bloomfield/Gene’s Cleaning (+1 on handicap)– 10
Will Orthwein – 2
Jube Baez – 3
Cuko Escapite – 3
Gene Gass – 1