L to R-Brandon Plunkett and Benjamin Avendano race for teh ball in semifinal action at the Port Mayaca Polo Club Thursday afternoon.
Santa Clara Polo Club (Brandon Plunkett, Cody Ellis, Lucas Escobar and Luis Escobar) didn’t go down in a blaze of glory Thursday afternoon at the Port Mayaca Holiday Family Cup at the Port Mayaca Polo Club, but they did go down as Patagones (Joaquin Avendano, Benjamin Avendano, Santiago Wulff and Santiago Avendano) came out on the winning end of a 5-2½ score.
Santa Clara received one-half goal by handicap but fell behind in the opening chukker on a 60-yard penalty conversion from Santiago Wulff, 1-½. Lucas Escobar responded with a goal from the field and Santa Clara ended the first chukker on top of a 1½-1 score.
Santa Clara polo team (L to R)-Lucas Escobar, Brandon Plunkett, Cody Ellis and Luis Escobar.
Goals were scarce in the second period with Luis Escobar scoring the only goal of the chukker. Patagones was held scoreless and fell behind, 2½-1.
Patagones regrouped at halftime and rattled off three consecutive goals in the third. Benjamin Avendano scored the first goal of the second half followed by goals from Wulff and Joaquin Avendano. Santa Clara was unable to score and trailed, 4-2½.
“We played terribly,” said team captain Luis Escobar. “Cody (Ellis) couldn’t finish plays and the opportunities we had we failed to convert.”
The Santa Clara defense settled down in the fourth and final chukker but their offense was nowhere to be found. Wulff converted a 30-yard penalty shot for the final score of the game as Patagones recorded the 5-2½ victory.
Wulff led the field in scoring with three goals (two on penalty shots). Benjamin Avendano and Joaquin Avendano each scored a goal for the win. Santa Clara received one-half goal by handicap but were only able to add single goals from Lucas Escobar and his father, Luis Escobar, in a losing effort.
“Lucas and Brandon (Plunkett) played well,” said Luis Escobar following the game, “but Cody and I didn’t play our best day today.”
Lucas Escobar on the ball with Santiago Avendano in pursuit.
The Patagones win sends them to the final where they will attempt to defend their 2015 title in Saturday’s 11:30am game.
HorseWare 8, Taylor Hill Farm 7
In earlier action, HorseWare (Barry Finnegan, Tim Kyne, Hugo Lloret and Wes Finlayson) bounced back from a 4-3 halftime deficit to down Taylor Hill Farm (Sarah Martin, C. J. Martin, Marcos Onetto and Jason Wates), 8-7, in the day’s other semifinal game.
Hugo Lloret and Wes Finlayson scored four goals apiece in the HorseWare win. Marcos Onetto recorded a game-high six goals (two on penalty conversions) and Jason Wates added a goal in the loss. The HorseWare victory pits them against Patagones in Saturday’s final.
On Friday, December 31st, Shamrock (Hayden Walsh, Max Secunda, Will Johnston and John Walsh) will face Banbury Cross (Breanna Gunnell, Nelson Gunnell, Tenzin Tognini and Marcos Bignoli) at 10AM in the New Year’s Eve Cup Finals.