(L to R)-Orchard Hill 10-goaler Facundo Pieres gets knocked off of the ball by Coca-Cola 8-goaler Julio Arellano. (Photo by Alex Pacheco)
A Postage Stamp Farm polo team (Timmy Dutta, Jota Chavanne, Mariano Aguerre and Juan Martin Zubia) that was decimated by injuries battled Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Sapo Caset, Costi Caset and Facundo Obregon) in the semifinal of the 2017 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club for six chukkers before losing in the final minutes of play, 13-12.
Taking the field without team captain Annabelle Gundlach (neck and shoulder injury), Brandon Phillips (back injury) and Kris Kampsen (shattered cheekbone), Mariano Aguerre, the only remaining member of the original Postage Stamp Farm team, rallied the team from an 7-6 halftime deficit to take the lead, 11-10 after five periods of play.
The game was tied twice in the final chukker with Sapo Caset scoring all three Tonkawa goals on penalty conversions while holding Postage Stamp Farm to a single goal from Aguerre.
Caset scored eight of his game high 10 goals on penalty conversions. Facundo Obregon added two goals and Costi Caset scored once in the Tonkawa victory that earned them a spot in the tournament’s final. A balanced Postage Stamp Farm attack saw Aguerre scored four of his five goals from the field. Juan Martin Zubia scored three times (all on penalty shots) with Timmy Dutta and Jota Chavanne adding two goals apiece in the loss.
Coca-Cola 11, Orchard Hill 10
Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Julian de Lusarreta, Julio Arellano and Wes Finlayson) made their way into the final of the 2017 Ylvisaker Cup with an 11-10 win over Orchard Hill (Duillio Diaz, Lucas Criado, Facundo Pieres and Nico Escobar) Wednesday afternoon at the International Polo Club.
American 8-goaler Julio Arellano led all scoring with seven goals for Coca-Cola (three on penalty conversions). Wes Finlayson was impressive in is second appearance with the team (replacing the injured Del Walton) scoring three times with Julian de Lusarreta adding a goal for the win. Facundo Pieres scored four times before leaving the game in the sixth chukker after suffering an injury following a fall. Lucas Criado added two goals and Nico Escobar was credited with a goal. Ten-goaler Polito Pieres (replacing Facundo Pieres in the sixth) scored twice in the loss.
The 2017 Ylvisaker Cup final between Tonkawa and Coca-Cola is scheduled to be played on Sunday, February 19 at 3pm.