Las Monjitas defeat Equuleus to ride into semi-finals of the Iglehart Cup – US Polo Update
Brad Blake scored the game-winner in the sudden-death over-time, as Las Monjitas notched a 10-9 win over Equuleus on Friday, in the quarter-finals of the Iglehart Cup being played at the International Polo Cup, Wellington. Las Monjitas, after conquering
the cliff-hanging contest by one goal sailed into the semi-finals of the tournament.
It was a see-saw contest between Las Monjitas and Equuleus, as both landed onto the field determined to take the crucial game of the tournament.
The opening chukker was filled with lot of attacks and counter-attacks, but only four goals were scored from the duo sides. Many hits went wide or pushed aside in the seven and half minute action. Santiago Toccalino and Alejandro Astrada scored one goal
each and put Monjitas ahead on the scoreboard.
Adam Snow and Marianito Obregon scored a couple of goals for Equuleus and tied the knots 2-2 at the end of the first set of play.
The second frame was completely belonged to Equuleus, as it obtained two scores while holding Monjitas goalless in the period. Obregon scored all the two goals in the second period and expanded the Equuleus lead up to two goals, 4-2.
Equuleus continued to dominate and marked three goals in the third set of play while limiting Monjitas’ offence only for a single score. Mariano Gonzalez converted a pair of goals and further stretched the lead. Toccalino notched the only goal of chukker
for Monjitas and showed their resistance in the game. Another Equuleus goal went up of the scoreboard from Obregon to end the first half of play with Equuleus hanging on to a four-point edge, 7-3.
The Monjitas attack came alive after a short break and they got three goals while holding their opponent Equuleus scoreless. Two goals from Astrada and single score from Toccalino really served Monjitas and reduced the wide lead to a single score. The chukker
ended with Monjitas trailing 7-6.
Both teams displayed wonderful game skills in the second last frame, but Equuleus scored two goals against the single attempt of Monjitas. Astrada converted a spot shot while field goals from Obregon and Gonzalez again lifted Equuleus with a two-point advantage,
9-7, with one chukker left to contest.
The pace of the game continued to accelerate, as one team wanted to continue the lead while other wanted to equal the results in the final seven minutes action. Many shots from Equuleus were brushed aside by the defensemen of Monjitas.
Astrada and Toccalino scored a pair of goals of which one was taken on a penalty shot while other from the field and levelled the results, as both teams went into the sudden-death overtime with a 9-9 score with them to the side-lines to make the game decisive.
A fast and furious fight started between both the teams following a short intermission between the regulation time and sudden-death extra period. Monjitas was showing dominance in the game and the ball mostly remained into their control.
Toccalino managed to steal the ball away and passed it to Brad Blake, who ran the length of the field and risked a long shot at goal which moved absolutely into the posts. The triumph not only lifted Monjitas into the semi-final round but enhanced the confidence
level of the players for future competitions.
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