Victorious Mexico-L to R-J.J. de Alba, Alejandro Gonzalez, Vale Aguilar and Julio Gracida.
(Photo by Elizabeth Hedley)
A strong first chukker gave Mexico (J.J. de Alba, Alejandro Gonzalez, Vale Aguilar and Julio Gracida) a lead that it never relinquished as they ran away with a 12-7½ win over Canada (Brenden Stenzel, Rob Stenzel, Brandon Phillips and Daniel Roenisch) Friday afternoon in FIP World Polo Championship Zone A competition at the Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic.
Canadian team captain Brandon Phillips scored the first goal of the game, 1½ -0 (Canada received ½ goal by handicap), but consecutive goals from J.J. de Alba had Mexico in front, 2-1½. Phillips responded with his second goal of the chukker but de Alba answered with two more goals to end the chukker with Mexico on top, 4-2½.
Goals from Vale Aguilar and Alejandro Gonzalez opened the second period as Mexico extended their lead to 6-2½. Rob Stenzel converted a penalty shot for Canada, but Gonzalez closed out the chukker with his second goal of the game for a7-3½ advantage.
Both offenses cooled off in the third chukker. Aguilar scored a goal from the field and Canada responded with a penalty goal from Phillips. Mexico continued to dominate, 8-4½.
Phillips scored on a penalty shot to open the fourth but Mexico wasn’t through. Gracida and de Alba scored from the field followed by a penalty goal from Gracida. With one chukker left in regulation time, Mexico held a commanding 11-5½ lead.
Fifth chukker goals from Daniel Roenisch and Phillips buoyed, 11-7½ the Canadian spirits briefly, but Gonzalez scored the final goal of the game for the 12-7½ victory.
Four of de Alba’s team high five goals came in the opening chukker for Mexico. Gonzalez added three goals and Aguilar and Gracida each scored twice for the win. Phillips scored five times for Canada. Rob Stenzel and Roenisch each chipped in single goals in the loss.
Sunday’s final round of play will pit the United States (2-0) against Mexico (2-0), with the winner qualifying for the FIP World Polo Championship in Chile in March of 2015. Canada will take the field against the Dominican Republic in a consolation match.