Equus & Company (Matt Coppola, Jared Zenni, Matias Obregon and Ulysses Escapite) received one goal by handicap overcame but fell behind 3-1 in the early goings of the first chukker of Saturday’s opening game of the 2013 Wanderers Classic 14-goal competition before rallying for a 13-11 win.
Floridian Community Bank (Gabriel Crespo, Diego Arellano, Whistle Uys and Stevie Orthwein) spotted the 13-goal Equus & Company team a goal but struck quickly, scoring two goals in the opening 90 seconds of play with Whistle Uys taking the opening throw-in down the field for the first goal and Stevie Orthwein replicating the same play on the ensuing throw-in for a 2-1 lead. A penalty conversion from Orthwein had Floridian Community Bank on top 3-1 when Equus & company responded. Goals from the field from Matias Obregon and Matt Coppola had it all even at 3-3 as the chukker ended.
Diego Arellano scored his first goal of the day to give Floridian Community Bank a 4-3 advantage in the opening minutes of the second chukker. Obregon answered with a goal from Equus & Company, but a second goal from Arellano put Floridian Community Bank on top, 5-4 after two periods.
Gabriel Crespo opened the third chukker with a goal for Floridian Community Bank, 6-4, but Jared Zenni kept Equus & Company close with his first goal of the match. Orthwein and Zenni exchanged goals as Floridian Community Bank struggled to maintain its lead, 7-6. Coppola scored the tying goal for Equus & Company, 7-7.
Ulysses Escapite got into the scoring column for Equus & Company as the second half got underway, giving them their first lead of the day, 8-7. Uys retaliated for Floridian Community Bank with a tying goal, 8-8. Orthwein closed out the scoring in the chukker with his third goal for a 9-8 advantage.
Orthwein stretched the Floridian Community Bank lead to two goals, 10-8, as he converted a penalty shot. Goals from Zenni (penalty conversion) and Escapite tied it up at 10-10 to end the chukker.
Obregon scored the first goal of the sixth chukker from the field for the one goal lead, 11-10, but Uys kept Floridian Community Bank in it with his third goal of the morning, 11-11. Just moments later, a foul near the Floridian Community Bank put Escapite at the penalty line where he converted the go-ahead goal. Zenni iced the cake with his fourth goal of the game for the 13-11 victory.
Orthwein led all scoring with five goals (two on penalty shots). Uys scored three times and Arellano added two goals. Crespo was credited with a single goal in the loss.
Zenni led the Equus & Company attack with four goals (one on a penalty shot). Orthwein and Escapite registered three goals apiece and Coppola scored twice in the win.
Wanderers Classic play will continue on Wednesday, January 9th at 10 am when Tonkawa (0-0) will open their season against Floridian Community Bank (0-1).