By Alex Webbe
Mexico scored a 9-7 win over the Dominican Republic in the first of a two game series in FIP Zone II play at the Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic Friday afternoon.
The 10-goal Dominican Republic team received three goals by handicap from Mexico and scored a first chukker goal from Dennis Santana for an early 4-2 lead. Mexico got opening period goals from Alejandro Gonzalez and Valerio Aguilar.
Mexico added two goals in the second chukker by Valerio Aguilar and Francisco Aguilar. The Mexican defense held the Dominican Republic scoreless. The game was all even at 4-4 at the end of the second period.
Both teams struggled to find any effective defense in the third chukker, and the first half ended in a 4-4 deadlock.
The Mexican defense held solid again in the fourth chukker while getting a go-ahead goal from Alejandro Gomez de Parada. For the first time all day, the Dominican Republic team found itself trailing in the 5-4 game.
Three unanswered goals by Mexico took the wind out of the Dominican Republic sails with Alejandro Gonzalez scoring his second goal of the game. Francisco Aguilar and Valerio Aguilar added single goals as Mexico took a commanding 8-4 advantage. For the third consecutive chukker the Dominican Republic found itself unable to score.
A last chukker rally brought the Dominican Republic to within a goal of Mexico. Guillermo Cochon opened the sixth chukker with the first goal followed by goals from Enhelberto Maldonado and Dennis Santana that had Mexico trailing, 8-7. Valerio Agujilar scored the final goal of the match for the 9-7 Mexican win.
Both teams will meet again on Sunday, May 15 for the second game (in a best-of-three) in the FIP World Cup qualifying competition.