By Alex Webbe
Scott Swerdlin replaced Mark Ganzi on the Port Mayaca lineup in a 12-10 win over a balanced Heronwood attack in the consolation round of the 2008 Autumn Plate at the Grand Champions Polo Club Tuesday morning.
Port Mayaca received one goal by handicap from the 18-goal Heronwood foursome and added to it in the opening minute of play on a well-placed goal from Stevie Orthwein. Luis Escobar answered for Heronwood with a single goal to end the first chukker trailing Port Mayaca 2-1.
Orthwein added another goal in the second period, followed by a penalty goal from teammate, Hector Galindo for a 4-1 lead until Heronwood’s John Gobin split the goalposts for a goal to end the chukker, Port Mayaca on top, 4-2.
“We had some chances,” said Luis Escobar. “We were in it all the way, but we needed to finish a couple more shots.”
Galindo and Justo Saavedra each added a goal to the Port Mayaca total in the third period, but penalties allowed Heronwood to get back into the game. Two penalty goals
from Heronwood team captain Michael Smith Liss and another goal from Gobin made it a one-goal game at the half with Port Mayaca holding on to a narrow 6-5 lead.
Brandon Phillips opened the scoring in the fourth chukker with a penalty conversion to knot it at 6-6, but two ensuing goals from Orthwein kept Port Mayaca ahead 8-6 going into the fifth frame.
Hector Galindo scored once and Orthwein added two more goals for Heronwood in the fifth chukker, but Heronwood answered the call. Two more goals from Phillips and a goal from Escobar had Port Mayaca maintaining its two goal lead going into the final chukker.
Heronwood mounted a last chukker effort in the final chukker, but it would be Port Mayaca that would score first. Hector Galindo scored for a 12-9 lead before Luis Escobar carried the ball through the Port Mayaca’s defense for the final goal of the game in the 12-10 Heronwood loss.
Port Mayaca’s Stevie Orthwein led all scoring with six goals. Hector Galindo scored four times and Justo Saavedra added a single goal for the win.
A balanced Heronwood attack had Brandon Phillips and Luis Escobar scoring three goals apiece. Michael Smith Liss and John Gobin scored two goals each in the loss.
Tournament play will continue on Friday with the first two games in the US Trust Cup. teams and schedule to be announced.
