By Alex Webbe
Miguel Novillo Astrada scored eight goals in leading Bendabout in a minor 13-11upset over Skeeterville in the semifinals of the Ylvisaker Cup Sunday at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Three goals from Alejandro Astrada and two from teammate Orrin Ingram gave Bendabout a 5-2 lead after the first two chukkers of play before came back with two unanswered goals in the third period to make it interesting.
Skeeterville managed to tie it up briefly in the fourth chukker before goals from Gillian Johnston and Alejandro Astrada closed the frame with Bendabout on top of an 8-6 score.
The teams traded goals in the fifth chukker until Julio Arellano managed to get into his groove. He scored the last two goals of the period and knotted it again at 10-10.
With the game on the line, it was Bendabout that fought the hardest, scoring three consecutive goals to seal the win. A final penalty conversion was allowed to Arellano, but Bendabout will be meeting Catamount at 10 am in Wednesday’s finals.
In earlier Ylvisaker Cup semifinal action, Catamount rolled over Isla Carroll 15-10 with Brandon Phillips leading the charge with six goals.
“We concentrated on Sugar (Erskine) with Nick (Roldan) bumping him and me hooking him,” said Catamount player-coach Todd Offen.
Erskine, Isla Carroll’s high-scoring South African 7-goaler was held to a single goal on a penalty shot in the first four chukkers of the game as the Catamount attack managed to rack up a 9-5 lead.
Both teams traded goals in the fifth period, as it appeared that Isla Carroll was showing signs of life, but Catamount ended the assault by scoring three goals in the final chukker for the 15-10 win.
Although Phillips led all scoring with six goals Nicolas Roldan has to be credited with the balanced attack that had team captain Scott Devon, Roldan and Offen scoring three goals apiece.
“He played well,” offered Offen. “We count on Nick to improve everyone’s game, and he hasn’t let us down yet.”
Erskine finished the day with four goals for Isla Carroll. Shane Rice scored three times on penalty conversions; Oscar Hernandez added two goals; and Sylvestre Donovan added a single goal in the loss.