By Alex Webbe
La Casa Hermosa fell behind early but staged a second half rally that carried it past Flat Out in the Wanderers Classic Thursday afternoon at the International Polo Club by a 10-8 score.
Flat Out took early control of the game, scoring three consecutive goals before La Casa Hermosa got started. Steve Krueger scored the first goal of the game followed by goals from teammates Todd Offen and Paul Knapp. Jeff Blake kept La Casa Hermosa from getting shut out with a closing goal. Flat Out led 3-1 after the opening chukker of play.
In second chukker action, Knapp’s second goal of the game had Flat Out ahead, 4-1, when La Casa Hermosa came alive. Consecutive goals from Chris Nevins and Jeff Blake cut the Flat Out lead to a single goal, 4-3 to end the chukker.
Nick Snow extended the flat Out lead, 5-3, with his first goal of the game, but La Casa Hermosa was just getting started. Coordinated passes and hard riding resulted in goals from Nevins and Jeff Blake, and at the end of the first half, it was all even at 5-5.
La Casa Hermosa’s defense tightened up in the second half, holding flat Out scoreless while picking up a pair of goals from Brad Blake, and for the first time all day La Casa Hermosa ended a chukker with a lead, 7-5.
A penalty conversion by Brad Blake in the fifth had La Casa Hermosa leading 8-5, but Flat Out wasn’t done yet. Consecutive goals from Snow and Knapp kept it close, but Flat Out continued to trail, 8-7.
Offen’s second goal of the game had it all tied up at 8-8 in the sixth chukker when La Casa Hermosa put it away. Goals from Nevins and Brad Blake ended the game with a 10-8 La Casa Hermosa victory.
Brad Blake led La Casa Hermosa with four goals. Nevins and Jeff Blake accounted for three goals apiece.
Flat Out team captain Paul Knapp scored a team high three goals. Snow and Offen each scored a pair of goals and Krueger added a goal in the loss.