By Alex Webbe
Hector Galindo scored the winning goal in the opening minute of overtime of the US Trust Cup Friday afternoon at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington as Heronwood defeated GTP, 7-4. The victory vaulted Heronwood into Sunday’s finals.
GTP took control of the game early with goals from Jeff Blake, Marc Ganzi and Ruben Gracida while Heronwood had to settle for the single goal it was awarded by handicap to trail, 3-1.
Heronwood shut down the GTP attack in the second chukker but managed only a single goal from Hector Galindo to end the period trailing 3-2.
Goals from the 2008 US Open MVP, Jeff Blake and another from Ganzi made it look like GTP was back in control in the third chukker, but John Gobin scored from the field and Galindo converted a penalty shot for Heronwood. The chukker ended with GTP holding on to a narrow 5-4 lead.
An energized Heronwood team returned to the field in the fourth chukker. Its defense managed to keep GTP off of the scoreboard while goals from Galindo and Michael Smith Liss gave Heronwood its first lead of the game, 6-5.
Both defenses tightened in the fifth chukker. With time running down, Ruben Gracida broke the goal line with a shot evening the score at 6-6.
‘We had our opportunities,” said GTP captain Marc Ganzi, “we just couldn’t finish the plays.”
A scoreless sixth chukker forced an overtime period with Galindo breaking free and slamming the ball through the goal posts for the win.
THREE J’S CIGAR EMPORIUM 7, PALM BEACH EQUINE 4
In earlier tournament action, a balanced attack on behalf of Three J’s Cigar Emporium put Palm Beach Equine in the hole from the opening minute of play, as it rolled on to a 7-4 victory and a berth in Sunday’s finals of the US Trust Cup on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.
Three J’s took advantage of opening goals from Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and J. J. Celis to take an early lead. Tommy Biddle scored a penalty goal, and Palm Beach Equine trailed 3-1.
Melissa Ganzi and Brandon Phillips each scored a goal from the field while disciplined defense held Palm Beach Equine scoreless. Three J’s left the field with a comfortable 5-1 advantage.
Tommy Biddle scored the only goal of the third period, but Three J’s held on to a 5-2 edge at the end of the first half.
Bollini’s second goal of the game opened the fourth chukker, but a Penalty 1 (which gave Heronwood a goal) and another goal from the field from Biddle got Palm Beach Equine back in the game, trailing 6-4 as the period ended.
“They’re playing like a well-oiled machine today,” remarked Biddle between chukkers, “we’re going to have to have our A Game to beat them.”
J. J. Celis scored the only goal in the last two chukkers of play, and Three J’s Cigar Emporium held on for the 7-4 win.
Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and J. J. Celis scored two goals apiece in the win. Teammate Brandon Phillips added a goal from the field.
Tommy Biddle accounted for all of the Palm Beach Equine scoring on the field, three goals. Palm Beach Equine received one goal by handicap and was awarded a goal on a Penalty 1.
The finals of the 2008 US Trust Cup will place Three J’s Cigar Emporium against Heronwood at 1pm while the consolation contest between GTP and Palm Beach Equine is scheduled to be played at 11am. Both contests will take place at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.