By Alex Webbe
The 17-goal Heathcote took advantage of three goals by handicap from the 20-goal Certified contingent Saturday afternoon to run up a 7-5 halftime lead, but surrendered two sixth chukker goals in losing to Certified (2-0) 11-10 in Monty Waterbury Cup action, 11-10. The Monty Waterbury Cup is a 90-year-old cup
that is played in memory of former 10-goaler James Montgomery “Monty”
Waterbury, Jr. Waterbury played on winning Westchester Cup teams in 1909, 1911 and 1913, and won the US Open Championship in 1904 with the Wanderers.
He died in 1920 at the age of 44.
“We led the whole game,” said Heathcote 6-goaler Tommy Biddle, “we really played hard. It’s tough to lose a game like that.”
Heathcote received three goals by handicap to start the game
but watched as Certified’s Tomas Garcia Del Rio converted a 60-yard penalty
shot. Moments later Marcos Garcia Del
Rio cut the Heathcote lead to 3-2, scoring a single goal from the field.
Naco Taverna and Tommy Biddle (penalty goal) each scored a
goal for Heathcote in the second, with Tomas Garcia Del Rio responding with his
second penalty goal of the day. The second period ended with Heathcote holding a 5-3 advantage.
Adam Snow scored his first goal of the game in the third chukker, and teammate Tomas Garcia Del Rio converted another penalty shot for a goal. Biddle answered for Heathcote, making good on a pair of penalty shots and preserving a 7-5 halftime advantage.
“They’re (Certified) one of the top teams in the tournament,” said Biddle. “It was a long hard game, with every member of each team playing well.”
Snow and Marcos Garcia Del Rio each scored a goal from the field in the fourth period while holding Heathcote to a single goal from the field from Nick Manifold and the Heathcote lead was cut to a single goal, 8-7.
Biddle opened the scoring in the fifth period by converting a penalty shot followed by a field goal from teammate Manifold for a 10-7 lead when Certified bounced back.
Marcos Garcia Del Rio scored a goal from the field, and brother Tomas made good on his fourth penalty shot of the day. Heathcote continued to lead with one chukker to play, 10-9.
With both teams pressing for a goal, it was Certified that picked up the tying score on a penalty goal from Tomas Garcia Del Rio. His brother Marcos pulled the win out in the final minute of the game.
“We made a mistake that put them at the penalty line,” said Biddle and then gave up a goal from a lineup,” he added. “We all played hard, and led throughout the game,” he sighed. It’s a tough game to lose.”
Certified’s Tomas Garcia Del Rio led all scoring with five goals. Marcos Garcia Del Rio added four goals and Snow accounted for a pair in the win.
Biddle set the pace for Heathcote, converting four penalty shots. Manifold added two goals from the field and Taverna accounted for a single goal in a losing effort.
The victory keeps Certified undefeated at 2-0 while Heathcote drops to 1-1. Monty Waterbury Cup play will continue on Monday, August 1 with White Birch (1-0) facing Circa (0-1).