Catamount team captain Scott Devon.
Catamount (Kelly Plato, Brandon Phillips, Mike Azzaro and Julio Gracida) ended their California season on a low note as they dropped their consolation match to FMB (Dan Walker, Inaki Laprida, Lucas Criado and Patrick Uretz) 15-9.
With Kelly Plato replacing Catamount team captain Scott Devon, Catamount received three goals by handicap from FMB, but the team chemistry just wasn’t there.
FMB scored five goals in the opening two chukkers while Catamount could do little more than watch. They trailed by three goals at the end of the first half, and things weren’t going to get any better.
Inaki Laprida opened the scoring with a goal from the field followed by a goal from teammate Dan Walker. Catamount led at the end of the first chukker, 3-2, by virtue of the three goals FMB spotted them at the onset, but were unable to add to it.
Second period play saw FMB pick up single goals from Walker, Laprida and Lucas Criado. For the second consecutive chukker Catamount was unable to score a goal, and fell behind, 5-3.
Criado scored twice in the third (one on a penalty shot) before Catamount showed any sign of offensive life. Mike Azzaro scored Catamount’s first goal of the day but trailed FMB at the end of the first half, 7-4.
Azzaro scored another goal in the fourth, but got no offensive support from his teammates, and FMB had found their rhythm. Laprida and Criado each scored a pair of goals for an 11-5 lead.
Azzaro’s single fifth chukker goal was the sum total of the Catamount offense once again. FMB responded with two goals from Walker for a 13-6 advantage.
Two more goals from Walker opened the final chukker, giving FMB a commanding 14-6 lead. Catamount seemed to wake up as Brandon Phillips scored twice and Plato added a single goal, but there was neither time nor resistance as time ran out on them. At the end of the game it was FMB with the 15-9 victory.
Walker registered a game high six goals for the win. Criado added five goals and Laprida scored four times. Azzaro scored three times for Catamount. Phillips added two goals and Plato scored once in the loss.
Santa Barbara will conclude their 2013 high-goal season on Sunday, September 1st with the finals of the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open finals between Lucchese (Tavi Usandizaga, Andres Weisz, Pelon Stirling and John Muse) and ERG (Scott Woods, Sugar Erskine, Paco de Narvaez and Jeff Blake).