Brazilian 8-goaler Rodrigo Andrade made his second appearance of the Hurlingham Open on the Ellerstina team, replacing Nico Pieres in the eighth chukker of the team’s win over Alegria in semifinal action. (Photo courtesy of Matias Callejo)
It had been three years since Alegría (Guillermo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Fred Mannix) had beaten Ellerstina (Facundo Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres, Polito Pieres and Nico Pieres) in a Triple Crown match (19-14 in the semifinal of the 2013 Argentine Open), but the team lineups had changed (with Sapo Caset joining Alegria and Polito Pieres, formerly with Alegria) joining his cousins on Ellerstina.
The opening chukker of the second Hurlingham Open semifinal went to Ellerstina on a pair of goals from Facundo Pieres (one on a penalty conversion) while Sapo Caset accounted for the only goal of the period for Alegria. After the first period of play, Ellerstina held the lead, 2-1.
Gonzalito Pieres and Nico Pieres each scored a goal for Ellerstina in the second period but Alegria began to settle into their game. Caset added another goal from the field while Hilario Ulloa converted two penalty shots for goals and a 4-4 tie.
Facundo Pieres scored his third goal of the day and Polito Pieres added a penalty goal in third chukker action. Alegria responded with a goal from the field from Caset, to trail Ellerstina by a single goal, 6-5.
Alegria and Ellerstina battled their way through the fourth period with Facundo Pieres and Nico Pieres each adding a goal. Lucas Monteverde kept Alegria from getting shutout with his first goal of the game, but it was Ellerstina with the 8-6 halftime lead.
A refocused Alegria lineup took the field in the fifth and put three goals on the score board. Caset scored his fourth goal of the afternoon and Ulloa added a goal from the field and a penalty goal. Facundo Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres each scored to keep Ellerstina in the lead, 10-9.
The Ellerstina attack poured it on in the sixth. Two goals from Facundo Pieres (one on a penalty shot) and a goal from the field from Polito Pieres extended their lead to three goals, 13-10. Caset accounted for the only goal by Alegria in the period. With two chukkers remaining in regulation play, Ellerstina held a 13-10 advantage.
Alegria was not deterred, however, and stormed back into the game in the seventh. Caset’s sixth goal of the game was complimented by a pair of goals from Ulloa (one on a penalty conversion). Polito Pieres scored the only goal of the chukker for Ellerstina who found themselves defending a narrow one goal lead, 14-13.
Alegria carried the momentum into the eighth chukker, tying the game at 14-14 on a goal from Caset. Facundo converted a 30-yard penalty shot to give the lead back to Ellerstina, 15-14. With just under two minutes remaining in the chukker, Brazilian 8-goaler replaced an injured Nico Pieres, and the game continued. A final goal from the field from Facundo Pieres gave Ellerstina the win, 16-14, and boosted them into the 2016 Hurlingham Open final on Wednesday against the defending champions, La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero).
Facundo Pieres led the field with nine goals (three on penalty shots). Polito Pieres scored three times (once on a penalty conversion) with Nico Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres each adding a pair of goals for the victory. Caset set the pace for the Alegria attack with seven goals. Ulloa scored four of his six goals on penalty shots and Monteverde scored once in the loss.