By Alex Webbe
Kentfield (Roxy Keyfauver, Eric Hammon, Cameron Smith and Ernesto Bautista) charged out to a 5-2 halftime lead in the opening match of the 2011 Jackalope Ranch Cup on its way to a 6-4 win over Heroes & Zeros (Suki Piper, Fred Schneeberger, Jonathan Burrows, Lolo Payan and Goyo Mariscal) Saturday afternoon at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Kentfield’s Roxy Keyfauver and Eric Hammon scored the opening goal of the match in the first chukker before Heroes & Zeros responded with a penalty conversion for a goal from Goyo Mariscal. A second goal from the field from Hammon closed out the period with Kentfield holding a 3-1 advantage over Heroes & Zeros.
Ernesto Bautista made it 4-1, Kentfield, with the first goal of the second chukker but Mariscal responded with a goal for the Heroes & Zeros. Hammon’s third goal of the day ended the first half with Kentfield sitting on top of a 5-2 lead.
Hammon and Mariscal exchanged goals in the third period, accounting for all of the scoring as both teams tightened their defensive play. After three chukkers of play Heroes & Zeros struggled to find an answer, trailing 6-3 with one chukker left to play.
Kentfield cruised through the final seven minutes of play as Heroes & Zeros fought to get its attack online. Mariscal scored for Heroes & Zeros to cut the lead to lead to two goals, but that would be as close as they would get. The final horn sounded with Kentfield riding off the with 6-4 victory. The win places Kentfield in Sunday’s 2PM finals.
Hammon led the Kentfield attack with four goals. Keyfauver and Bautista added single goals in the win.
Mariscal scored all four goals for the Heroes & Zeroes.
MATRIX 11, KINGSCLIFFE 7
Matrix (Shane Flock, Doug Schneider, Jared Sheldon and Ashton Wolf) used an explosive three goal third chukker to race out of a close contest with Kingscliffe (Kate Ewart, Kendra Clark, Brad Ramsby and Santos Areolla) and gallop off with an 11-7 win in the tournament’s second match of the day.
Kingscliffe received on goal by handicap from Matrix and quickly added to it with a pair of goals from Kate Ewart. Matrix responded with two goals from the field from Jared Sheldon as Kingscliffe held on to an early 3-2 lead.
Matrix’s Ashton Wolf tied it at 3-3 in the second and Sheldon gave them a 4-3 advantage with his third goal of the day. Kendra Clark answered with a goal for Kingscliffe and Brad Ramsby chipped in a goal but scores from Wolf and Schneider had Matrix leaving the field at halftime with a narrow 6-5 edge.
The Matrix teamwork was at its best in the third chukker as the defense kept Kingscliffe off of the scoreboard while scoring three unanswered goals (two from Sheldon and one from Wolf). Matrix was now guarding a four goal, 9-5 lead with one chukker left to play.
Clark scored twice for Kingscliffe in the final frame, but Matrix was up to the challenge. Wolf answered back with his fourth and fifth goals of the game for the 11-7 win.
Sheldon and Wolf scored five goals apiece in the Matrix win. Schneider added a single goal from the field.
Clark’s three goals set the pace for Kingscliffe. Ewart scored twice and Ramsby accounted for one goal. Kingscliffe also received one goal by handicap.
The win places Matrix in Sunday’s 2PM finals against Kentfield. A noon consolation match between Kingscliffe and Heroes & Zeros is also scheduled.
Kids Polo is slated to take place a 9AM.
