Seventeen-year-old Peke Gonzalez scored all eight of his goals from the field as Goose Creek put the brakes on Maserati of Albany Saturday afternoon in the 18-goal IPC Members Challenge Cup at the International Polo Club. (Photo by Alex Pacheco)
With the threat of heavy rain in the area and a few drops falling on the Isla Carroll West field at the International Polo Club, Goose Creek (Maureen Brennan, Peke Gonzalez, Lucas Criado and Mariano Gonzalez) teen star Peke Gonzalez scored eight times in leading his team to a 15-12 win over Maserati of Albany (Henry Porter, Facha Valent, Bradley Mallett and Luis Escobar) in Saturday afternoon action in the 2016 IPC Members Challenge Cup.
Maserati of Albany received two goals by handicap from the 18-goal Goose Creek lineup but made them up in the opening minutes of play with a pair of goals from the field from Peke Gonzalez, 2-2. Lucas Criado scored Goose Creek’s third goal of the day before Maserati of Albany’s offense stirred. Luis Escobar got them on the scoreboard with a goal from the field at the two-minute mark and Mariano Gonzalez converted a 60-yard penalty shot with 31 seconds on the clock to give Goose Creek the 4-3 advantage.
Peke Gonzalez and the Goose Creek attack went to work on the Maserati of Albany attack in the second chukker, holding their opponents scoreless and putting four more goals on the scoreboard to give them a five goal lead. Peke Gonzalez scored three times and his father, Mariano Gonzalez added a goal that had them on top, 8-3.
Maserati of Albany started chipping away at the Goose Creek in third chukker play. Martin “Facha” Valent scored the first goal of the period with a 30-yard penalty conversion followed up by a goal from Henry Porter that cut the lead back to three goals, 8-5. Mariano Gonzalez and Criado scored single goals that ended the first half with Goose Creek defending their five goals lead, 10-5.
The pace continued to quicken as the second half got underway. Peke Gonzalez scored his sixth goal of the match in the opening minute of play that was countered by a goal from Luis Escobar, 11-6. Mariano Gonzalez scored on a 60-yard penalty conversion and Brad Mallett scored the final goal of the chukker with 14 seconds left in the chukker. After four periods, Goose Creek continued to lead by five goals, 12-7.
Fifth chukker goals from Peke Gonzalez and Criado had Maserati of Albany trailing by seven goals as the Goose Creek attack continued to rule the field. Mallet responded with a goal from the field at the 2:20 mark and Valent cut the lead back to five goals, 14-9, with his second goal of the game at 1:12.
The two teams traded goals in the final period of play with Valent opening with a short penalty conversion for a goal, 14-10. Goose Creek answered back with a goal from Peke Gonzalez, 15-10. Escobar scored on a penalty shot and Valent closed out the game with his second goal of the chukker and fourth of the day as Goose Creek rode off with the 15-12 victory.
Peke Gonzalez led all scoring with eight goals. Mariano Gonzalez scored four times (twice on penalty conversions) and Criado added three goals for the win. Valent led the Maserati of Albany offense with four goals. Escobar scored three times; Mallett was credited with two goals; and Porter scored once in a losing effort.