Caption: :a Dolfina wins the 2016 Jockey Club Open (L to R)-Juan Martin Nero, Pablo MacDonough, Adolfo Cambiaso and Lia Salvo, by beating La Aguada/Las Monjitas 16-12.
BUENOS AIRES-La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Lía Salvo, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero) got the 2016 Argentine high-goal season off on the right foot, outscoring La Aguada-Las Monjitas (Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) 14-11 to capture the Jockey Club Open. The win also made history with Lia Salvo becoming the first woman to win the tournament.
La Dolfina took the early 3-2 lead on a pair of penalty goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and a goal from the field from Lia Salvo. Miguel Novillo Astrada scored both goals for La Aguada-Las Monjitas on penalty conversions.
La Aguada-Las Monjitas tied the game at 5-5 in the second period with Alejandro Novillo Astrada scoring twice and Nacho Novillo Astrada adding a goal from the field. Cambiaso scored twice for La Dolfina.
Adolfo Cambiaso’s Dolfina Cora was honored as Best Playing Pony.
Cambiaso scored for the fifth time in third chukker play. Teammates Juan Martin Nero and Pablo MacDonough each added a goal from the field. Miguel Novillo Astrada kept La Aguada-Las Monjitas in the game with two more penalty goals. At the end of the first half it was La Dolfina with a narrow 8-7 edge.
La Aguada-Las Monjitas rallied for three goals in the fourth with Miguel Novillo Astrada scoring twice and Nacho Novillo Astrada adding a goal. La Dolfina was held to a pair of penalty goals from Cambiaso. After four chukkers the score was all even at 10-10.
A determined La Dolfina team took control of the game in the fifth. Single goals from MacDonough and Cambiaso (penalty goal) were complimented by shutout defense. After five periods of play, La Dolfina left the field with a 12-10, two goal lead.
La Aguada-Las Monjitas struggled to stage a sixth chukker rally, but it was not to be. MacDonough and Nero each scored a goal for La Dolfina while La Aguada-Las Monjitas eked out a single penalty goal from Miguel Novillo Astrada. With one chukker left to play it was La Dolfina with the lead, 14-11.
Seventh period goals from Cambiaso and Nero were more than enough. Nacho Novillo Astrada managed a single goal for
Cambiaso took top scoring honors with nine goals (five on penalty conversions) and earned MVP honors. MacDonough and Nero each scored three times and Salvo added a goal for the win. Miguel Novillo Astrada’s seven goals (five from the penalty line) set the pace for La Aguada-Las Monjitas. Nacho Novillo Astrada was credited with three goals and Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored twice in the loss.
Although Cambiaso played five Lapa clones over the course of the game, it was his Dolfina Cora who earned the Best Playing Pony award. La Aguada-Las Monjitas as La Dolfina rode off with the game, 16-12.
It will be a short turnaround for the La Aguada-Las Monjitas lineup (Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Eduardo Novillo Astrada, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) as they return to play the opening game of the 2016 Tortugas Open against El Paraiso (Agustin Merlos, Ignacio Toccalino, Ignacio Heguy and Santiago Toccalino) in a 1pm match. A 3:30pm contest between Alegría (Guillermo Caset, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Fred Mannix) and Washington (Diego Cavanagh, Ezequiel M. Ferrario, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella) will follow.