WAR BIRDS GET BY TEAM AIKEN AT SARATOGA POLO
Team Aiken nursed a small lead through most of the match, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the War Birds as they used a decisive sixth and final chukker to capture an 8-7 win in a back and forth contest at Saratoga Polo on Wednesday.
Team Aiken actually started the match out with a one-goal lead due to handicap. Tab Orthwein added to that lead with the only goal in the first chukker (also her only goal in the match). Will Orthwein, Tab’s husband, got the War Birds on the board for the first time in the second chukker with 2 of his match-leading 4 markers.
Team Aiken went into the half with a 5-3 lead after receiving a goal from each of its players in the first half, but was held scoreless in the 4th chukker when Luis Galvan scored both of his goals on the evening and Will Orthwein had another one to give the War Birds a 6-5 lead
Team Aiken bounced back in the fifth and penultimate chukker, keeping War Birds away from the goal posts and getting a tally apiece from Jube Baez and Gene Gass to retake the lead at 7-6.
The sixth and final chukker was all War Birds, as they kept the pressure on and prevented Team Aiken from scoring all period long for the second time in the match. The War Birds got their tying score from Matthew Coppola, son to teammate Tony Coppola and an up and coming junior star at all of 11 years old. Matt Coppola also put the ball in position for leading scorer Will Orthwein to tap in the game winner.
The next match at Saratoga Polo will be on Friday, June 23 at 5:30pm. Matches will be played every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday until Labor Day weekend. For more information, call 518-584-8108 or visit saratogapolo.com.
Total Goals Scored
Team Aiken (+1 on handicap) – 7
Tab Orthwein – 1
Peter Williams – 1
Jube Baez – 2
Gene Gass – 2
Tammy Ehinger (Alternate for Tab Orthwein in chukkers 4 & 6)– 0
War Birds – 8
Jackie Czub – 1
Will Orthwein – 4
Luis Galvan – 2
Tony Coppola – 0
Matthew Coppola (Alternate for Jackie Czub in chukkers 5 &6) – 1