Windsor Capital overpowers Cotterel Farms 10-7
By DIANE HENSLEY
INDIO –- Windsor Capital soundly defeated Cotterel Farms 10-7 in Sunday’s featured game of March’s 12-goal Skins League at Eldorado Polo Club. Despite an untenable defense in five-goaler Mariano Gutierrez, Cotterel Farms’ offense crumbled under the crush of Windsor’s twin powers Jason Crowder and Joseph Stuart who, together, continue to deliver accurate passing, well-timed positioning and speed.
Windsor’s strengths held Cotterel Farms to three scoreless chukkers in the second, fourth and fifth, and allowed Cotterel its only lead in the match in the third. Down 5-2 going into the third, Cotterel shut down Windsor scoring and turned the tide to 6-5 on three consecutive goals from Gutierrez and a single tap-in by No. 1 Jenny Luttrell. Gutierrez went to work early receiving a long pass from Luis Saracco and handily centering a 45-yard nearside through the posts 45 seconds into the chukker. He converted a penalty two with 4:57 left on the clock and then scored again off a well placed ball from Saracco. Luttrell capitalized on a turnover engineered by Gutierrez and met his pass for the go-ahead goal with 20 seconds remaining.
Windsor regained the lead after the half on Stuart’s two penalty conversions and a clever save by Crowder. At midfield, Crowder rode in for the steal from Cotterell’s Gutierrez and sent a pass to waiting Windsor Capital patron Patrick Nesbitt. Nesbitt turned for the shot, connected for the carry and fired a second shot toward goal as Zavaleta pursued. But Gutierrez, hovering near the goal, was there for the block and backed the ball. Crowder spun around for the save, rode off Gutierrez and backed the ball 40 yards through the posts.
An unstoppable Windsor offense breezed through the fifth chukker on two lone goals from Crowder. Hazed by Cotterel’s Ignacio Saracco, Crowder withstood the rideoff and managed a short offside that found the uprights But it was Crowder’s 85-yard bomb that earned the reputed “Shot of the Day” honors. Nesbitt started the play with a pass to Stuart. Stuart tapped the ball in a circle to evade Gutierrez and sent a shot downfield to Crowder. Stuart kept the pressure on Gutierrez as they raced toward Crowder who had drawn a pack of the Saracco brothers. Zavaleta defended as Crowder lifted himself out of the saddle and reached way out on the offside for the snap and the 10-6 lead.
Cotterel Farms rallied briefly in the sixth on a stronger defense that kept Windsor Capital from scoring and added a penalty conversion for Gutierrez after a troublesome lineup. Windsor missed two opportunities to score when Stuart’s shot on goal went wide in the first 10 seconds and Zavaleta hit a long shot that strayed off to the left with 4:20 remaining.
Wins and net goals during the month-long league will determine the two qualifiers who will face off in the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Skins Benefit final Mar. 30.
Current standings in the 12-goal league put the Hawks, Palm Desert, Valiente and Windsor Capital 1-0, with High Prairie, Aspen Oaks, Duende and Cotterel at 0-1. The Hawks defeated High Prairie 10-9, Palm Desert toppled Aspen Oaks 9-7, and Valiente outplayed Duende 11-2.
Upcoming on the Eldorado Polo Club schedule is the Joe Barry Memorial Junior Polo Tournament Mar. 16-17 and the U.S.P.A. Pacific Circuit Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s Cup six-goal tournaments Mar. 21-30.
WINDSOR CAPITAL 10, COTTEREL FARMS 7
Goals:
Windsor Capital: Joseph Stuart 5, Jason Crowder 4, Clemente Zavaleta 1, Pat Nesbitt.
Cotterel Farms: Mariano Gutierrez 5, Jenny Luttrell 1, Luis Saracco, Ignacio Saracco, one on handicap.
Diane Hensley can be reached at dkheditor@msn.com.