By Alex Webbe

Defense was the byword in the opening chukkers of Thursday afternoon’s Tortugas Open finals with La Dolfina taking a 1-0 lead after the opening chukker and Ellerstina tying it up at 1-1 to end the second.

Ellerstina scored four consecutive goals in the third with Nico Pieres giving them a 5-1 lead.  Cambiaso converted a penalty shot to end the period with a three goal, 5-2 advantage.

Fourth chukker goals from Pablo MacDonough and Pelon Stirling cut the Ellerstina lead to a single goal, 5-4 before La Dolfina tied it up to end the period all even at 5-5.

Mariano Aguerre scored the opening goal of the fifth as Ellerstina took back the lead, 6-5.  Two minutes later Juan Martin Nero scored to knot it up at 6-6.  Facundo Pieres converted a penalty goal to give Ellerstina the lead once again, 7-6.

Cambiaso is hit in the shoulder with a mallet and the clock stops.  As they are looking for a replacement for him (Lucas James or Santiago Chavanne), he returns to the field and play resumes.  Stirling scored the final goal of the chukker to even it out at 7-7.

Two minutes into the sixth chukker Nero scores a beautifully executed goal to give La Dolfina an 8-7 advantage.   Cambiaso converts a penalty shot for a score and a 9-7 La Dolfina lead.   Ellerstina responds with three straight goals for a 10-9 edge to end the chukker.

Beautiful teamwork as Facundo feeds Gonzalito who scores to put Ellerstina up, 11-9 in the seventh and final chukker of play.  Facundo Pieres scores again on a well-placed shot at goal and Ellerstina stretches the lead to three goals, 12-9.  Juan Martin Nero cuts the lead with a goal from the field. Ellerstina is still ahead, 12-10.  A final goal from La Dolfina ends the game with Ellerstina winning the 2012 Tortugas Open, 12-11.