By Alex Webbe
It was a relatively tame first half that saw Lechuza take a 4-2 halftime lead before falling to Goose Creek 8-7 on a last second goal from Chilean 80goaler Jose Donoso Saturday morning in the opening round of play in the International Polo club’s 14-goal Freebooter Classic.
Melanja Jones took the Number 1 position for Lechuza I, but it would be Goose Creek’s Geronimo Obregon who would put the first goal on the scoreboard as both teams saw their first action in the tournament.
Goose Creek team captain Maureen Brennan added a goal in the second chukker, but goals from Martin Espain and Guille Aguerro would even the score at 2-2.
Two more goals from Espain in the third combined with shutout defense had Lechuza I cruising along with a 4-2 halftime lead as neither team showed a propensity to score.
Martin Zegers scored twice from the field in the fourth chukker to tie the game, 4-4, as Lechuza I failed to break through the Goose Creek defense.
The speed of the game picked up in the fifth, with Geronimo Obregon scoring for Goose Creek followed by a goal from Jose Donoso. Consecutive goals from Lechuza’s Guille Aguero leveled the score at 6-6 to end the chukker.
Zegers scored the go-ahead goal in the sixth for Goose Creek, but Espain quickly canceled it out with his fourth goal of the match, and the speed of the game continued to increase.
With seconds remaining on the clock, Donoso carried the ball down the field, executing a perfectly placed shot through the Lechuza goal posts as the final horn sounded.
Goose Creek would ride off the field with the 8-7 win.
Martin Espain led the Lechuza team with four goals. Guille Aguero added three goals in the loss.
Martin Zegers led a balanced Goose Creek attack with three goals. Jose Donoso and Geronimo Obregon scored two goals apiece and Maureen Brennan scored once for the win.
VILLA DEL LAGO 8, CIRCA 7
In earlier Freebooter classic play, a punchless Circa offense finally got back into the swing of it in the second half of the game before losing to Villa Del Lago, 8-7 in the second tournament match of the day.
Matias Obregon and Jim Zenni scored the opening goals for Villa Del Lago with Tomas Garcia del Rio converting a 60-yard penalty shot for a goal for Circa.
Carlucho Arellano converted a 40-yard penalty shot for a goal in the second followed by Matias Obregon’s second goal of the game. The combination of disciplined defense and a lack of offense, Circa was held scoreless.
Arellano scored the final goal of the first half from the field as Circa was shutout for the second consecutive chukker. Villa Del Lago ended the first half with a 5-1 lead.
Circa came onto the field in the fourth chukker with a determined resolve. Two goals from Garcia del Rio were complimented by a determined defense that kept Villa Del Lago off of the scoreboard for the first time all afternoon. The fourth chukker ended with Villa Del Lago holding on to a two point lead, 5-3.
Agustin Obregon scored on a 30-yard penalty shot in the fifth followed by a penalty goal from Circa’s Martin Pepa. Arellano scored his third goal of the game (penalty shot) to end the chukker with Circa trailing, 7-4.
Circa took the field with a note of determination in the wind in the sixth and final chukker. Two penalty conversions from Garcia del Rio and a goal from the field from Carlitos Gracida had the game all even at 7-7.
Trying to keep it from slipping away in the final minutes of play, Villa Del Lago mounted a final attack that resulted in a Circa foul. Arellano connected on the penalty shot for the winning goal in the 8-7 contest.
Tomas Garcia del Rio led all scoring with five goals. Teammates Martin Pepa and Carlitos Gracida scored single goals in the losing effort. Carlucho Arellano accounted for four Villa Del Lago goals. Matias Obregon scored twice and Agustin Obregon and Jim Zenni added single goals for the win.