Pony Express Beats Isla Carroll 12-11
By Alex Webbe
Tomas Goti scored seven goals on Wednesday in leading Pony Express (2-0) over a talented Isla Carroll (1-1) team that came up just short in the second round of competition in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Pony Express received one goal by handicap and, on the strength of goals from Carlos Gracida and Matias Machado, left the field after the first chukker of play with a 3-0 lead.
Goti converted a penalty shot to make it 4-0 before Isla Carroll got its offense going.
Sugar Erskine scored Isla Carroll’s first goal, followed by a goal from Silvestre Donovan. Goti tallied again for Pony Express to make it 5-2 after two chukkers.
It was Goti, again, who opened the scoring in the third period as he converted a 40 yard penalty shot. He followed a few minutes later with a goal from the field, but Isla Carroll wasn’t ready to roll over yet.
Donovan scored two goals within less than 45 seconds, cutting the Pony Express lead to 7-4.
Erskine spearheaded the Isla Carroll attack in the fourth period scoring the first goal of the second half. Shane Rice added two penalty conversions. Goti scored the lone Pony Express goal of the chukker as Donovan chipped in his fourth goal of the game to tie it at 8-8.
Goti converted a penalty shot in the fifth chukker to take a short-lived 9-8 lead before. Donovan’s fifth goal of the game tied it again at 9-9.
“We got behind early and just couldn’t overcome it,” said Isla Carroll 7-goaler Sugar Erskine. “We had a number of opportunities.”
Pony Express took charge of the final chukker of play with consecutive goals from Goti, Gracida and Machado for a three goal lead.
“I thought we were back in it,” said Donovan, “and then they scored three consecutive goals.”
Rice recovered a missed penalty shot and carried it through for a goal, and Erskine scored his third goal with seconds remaining. The bell sounded, and Pony Express went home with the 12-11 win.
“We had our chances,” said a smiling but disappointed Isla Carroll team captain, John Goodman. “It was a good game,” he added.
Goti led all scorers with seven goals. Gracida and Machado scored two goals apiece and the team received one goal by handicap.
Donovan’s five goals led the Isla Carroll assault. Erskine and rice scored three goals each in the loss.
Action continues on Thursday with a rare 10am match between Catamount and Skeeterville. San Saba is scheduled to play Patagones at 11am on Friday.