By Alex Webbe
The PoloSkilz team opened up the 2011 WCT 0-2 goal championship competition with a convincing 8-4 win over Speedwell with Holland’s Natascha Baecher leading all scoring with five goals.
Speedwell received one goal by handicap but PoloSkilz’s Kristi Outhier scored the only goal of the first chukker with a penalty shot conversion as both teams sized one another up. At the end of the first period the score stood at 1-1.
Speedwell moved ahead, 2-1, on a penalty goal from Angela York, but that was when Baecher took over. Two goals from the field were followed by a 40-yard penalty conversion and PoloSkilz led, 4-2 after two chukkers of play.
Baecher and Outhier added single goals from the field to give PoloSkilz a 6-3 lead. Maureen Brennan scored the only Speedwell goal of the chukker.
Baecher converted her second 40-yard penalty goal of the match in the fourth and final chukker and Outhier scored her third goal of the game as PoloSkilz galloped away from Speedwell. Jennifer Williams scored the last goal of the contest as PoloSkilz coasted to the 8-4 win.
Baecher led PoloSkilz with five goals. Outhier added three goals in the win.
Speedwell got single goals from Brennan, York and Williams and received one goal by handicap.
GOOSE CREEK 5, PRIMA 3
Sunny Hale demonstrated why she is the toast of American women’s polo, scoring five times as Goose Creek handed Prima a 5-3 loss in the second game of the day.
Alina Carta opened the first period with a goal from the field, but Goose Creek was quick to respond. Hale converted a penalty shot and added a goal from the field to take an early 2-1 lead.
Tiffany Busch tied it up for Prima with a goal as her teammates assisted in holding Goose Creek scoreless. The chukker ended with the teams all even at 2-2.
Hale rallied the troops with a pair of goals in the third for a 4-2 lead, as Prima was unable to break through the Goose Creek defense for a score. Hale converted a penalty goal in fourth, with Busch responding in king for Prima. Goose Creek rode off the field with a 5-3 victory.
Hale scored all five goals for Goose Creek while Prima got a pair of goals from Busch and a single goal from Carta in a losing cause.