By Alex Webbe
A last chukker goal by Goose Creek’s Brandon Phillips sunk the hopes of the MetalTek team Friday morning as they lost 10-9 in 16-goal action in the Everglades Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Tano Vial put Goose Creek on the scoreboard first with a 60-yard penalty conversion, but MetalTek, who received one goal by handicap, moved ahead, 2-1 on a penalty goal from Tommy Biddle.
Second chukker action had MetalTek picking up goals from Will Johnston and Stevie Orthwein but Goose Creek picked up a pair of goals from Vial to keep them in the mix. After two chukkers of play, MetalTek continued to lead, 4-3.
Goose Creek scored the first two goals of the third chukker, tying it at 4-4 on a goal from Brandon Phillips and taking the lead, 5-4, on Vial’s fourth goal of the game. Stevie Orthwein scored the final goal of the period to tie it up at 5-5 to end the first half.
A goal from the field by Tommy Biddle opened the fourth chukker with MetalTek on top, 6-5, but the lead was short-lived. Goals from Phillips and Vial had Goose Creek ahead at the end of the period, 7-6.
Two more Goose Creek goals in the fifth extended the lead to 9-7 with Vial and Cote Zegers scoring on penalty shots and Biddle responding with the only MetalTek goal.
A determined MetalTek team took the field in the sixth; picking up single goals from Biddle and Johnston, but the rally was cut short by a resilient Goose Creek defense. Phillips sunk the MetalTek hopes with the final goal of the game in the 10-9 Goose Creek victory.
Vial led all scoring with six goals. Phillips scored three times and Zegers added a goal in the win.
Biddle was credited with four MetalTek goals. Johnston and Stevie Orthwein scored two goals apiece and the team received one goal by handicap.