Facundo Pieres scored ten times in the Ellerstina win in Hurlingham Open play.
In a slow starting opening chukker of play Tuesday afternoon at the Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina, La Natividad (Sapo Caset, Nachi Heguy, Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola) scored the only goal of the first period for a humbling 1-0 lead over Magual (Alejandro Muzzio, Ignacio Toccalino, Marcos Di Paola and Jaime Huidobro) in Hurlingham Open competition.
The two teams traded goals in the second chukker, each scoring a couple of goals. La Natividad continued to lead, 3-2.
Four unanswered goals by La Natividad in the third period left Magual trailing by five goals. La Natividad rode into the fourth chukker of the game with a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Three more fourth chukker goals by La Natividad extended their lead even further. Magual managed a single goal, but fell behind by seven goals, 10-3 at the end of the first half.
Magual regrouped at halftime and charged into the fourth chukker with their biggest goal production of the day, four goals. A shocked La Natividad responded with a single goal. Magual had cut the lead to four goals, but it was La Natividad who maintained control of the match, 11-4.
La Natividad scored three more goals in the sixth while Magual had to settle for just two scores. La Natividad led by five goals, 14-9.
Magual fought to get back into the game in the final two chukkers of the game, but La Natividad matched them goal for goal. The two teams scored a pair of goals apiece in each of the final two chukkers as La Natividad rode off with the 18-13 win.
Sapo Caset lit up the field, scoring eight of his game high 13 goals on penalty shots. Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola scored two goals apiece. Nachi Heguy added a goal. Ignacio Toccalino scored nine goals for Magual (six on penalty conversions). Alejandro Muzzio was credited with four goals in the loss.
ELLERSTINA 17, LA AGUADA/LAS MONJITAS 10
Ellerstina/Piaget (Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Paco de Narvaez) had their way with La Aguada/Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) in the opening chukker of Tuesday’s Hurlingham Open match with five straight goals. The Ellerstina defense complimented their offensive prowess by blanking La Aguada/Las Monjitas for a 5-0 lead.
Ellerstina scored the first two goals of the second chukker for a 7-0 advantage before La Aguada/Las Monjitas settled into a rhythm. Two goals from Negro Novillo Astrada cut the lead to five goals, 7-2. Ellerstina scored the final two goals for an 8-2 lead.
The two teams leveled off in third and fourth period action, scoring a pair of goals apiece in each of the chukkers. At the end of the first half, Ellerstina sat on top of a 12-6 score.
Ellerstina stretched their lead to seven goals in the fifth chukker, outscoring La Aguada/Las Monjitas 2-1. Ellerstina remained in control of the contest behind a 14-7 score.
La Aguada/Las Monjitas continued to pressure the Ellerstina defense, outscoring them for the first time all day. La Aguada/Las Monjitas cut the lead back to six goals, scoring twice while limiting Ellerstina to a single goal. La Aguada/Las Monjitas trailed, 15-9 with two chukkers left in regulation play.
Facundo Pieres led the Ellerstina attack with ten goals (four on penalty shots). Gonzalito Pieres scored five times and Mariano Aguerre added two goals for the win. Negro Novillo Astrada scored six of his seven goals on penalty conversions. Magoo Laprida scored twice and Eduardo Novillo Astrada scored once for Loa Aguada/Las Monjitas.
Hurlingham Open play will continue on Friday, October 25th when La Dolfina (2-0) and La Aguada (2-0) meet in semifinal action. Chapaleufu (0-2) and Alegria (0-2) will play one another in a consolation match.
On Saturday, October 26th Ellerstina (0-2) and La Natividad (2-0) will face one another in the tournament’s second semifinal match. Magual (0-2) and La Aguada/Las Monjitas (0-2) will play one another for third place honors in the same bracket.