US Polo Recap: Zacara and Equuleus sail into Ylvisaker Cup Finals
The teams of Zacara and Equuleus, after defeating Lucchese and Patagones, respectively qualified for the finals of the Ylvisaker Cup being held at the International Polo Club, Wellington on 20 February, 2011. Here is a recap of the match-ups.
Zacara 11 – Lucchese 8
Gonzalo Del Tour lit the lamp eight times, as Zacara marked an 11-8 win over Lucchese and earned a spot in the title-claiming fight of the tournament.
The Lucchese obtained a goal by handicap, accompanied by a field point from Luis Escobar. The attackers of Zacara were not sitting around and watching the game go by, as Del Tour of Zacara punched three goals to take a narrow one-goal lead, 3-2 at the end
of the first frame.
The second round completely belonged to Lucchese, as it obtained two goals while holding Zacara goalless. Kris Kampsen and Anders Wesiz added a couple of goals, of which one was scored on a penalty shot, while other from the field. The period ended with
Zacara trailing 4-3.
The Zacara team revved it up in the third frame and managed to score a couple of goals, while shutting down the attack of Lucchese. Jeff Blake and Del Tour added one goal apiece to end the first half with Zacara holding a narrow one goal, 5-4 advantage.
The two sides displayed wonderful skill in the fourth and fifth chukkers. Kampsen converted a pair of penalty shots, while his team-mate Escobar and Wesiz nailed one goal each to put Lucchese ahead. Del Tour and Mariano Uranga notched two and one goal respectively
for Zacara and tied the game at eight-all, after the five-frame action.
The final chukker was completely dominated by Zacara, as it obtained three more goals while holding Lucchese scoreless in the seven and half minute play. The Zacara team, with the final whistle of the time-completion won the game by three goals and will
face Equuleus in the finals of the event.
Equuleus 11 – Patagones 7
The second semi-final was played between Equuleus and Patagones at the same venue, where Equuleus overpowered Patagones by four goals and confirmed its spot for the title fight. Marianito Obregon stole the show by scoring five goals and played pivotal role
in the victory.
Carlos Avendano of Patagones, through a penalty conversion, scored the first goal of the game and put his team ahead on the scoreboard. Adam Snow responded with a field goal for Equuleus and levelled the game at one-all at the end of the first frame.
At the start of the second period, Obregon scored two goals and further expanded the lead. Gonzalo Avendano of Patagones marked a goal and cut the lead down to two goals, 3-2, at the end of the second chukker.
Obregon and Snow scored one goal apiece in the third frame to hold back the Equuleus’ lead in the game. A Patagones goal went up on the scoreboard from Carlos Avendano to end the first half play with Patagones chasing 5-3.
The duo foursomes swapped a pair of goals in the fourth and single point in the fifth frame before Equuleus started to put pressure on Patagones. The trio of Equuleus including Obregon, Gonzales and Snow added one goal apiece in the score, while Memo Gracida
and Carlos Avendano notched two and one goals for Patagones.
Both teams went into the final period with Equuleus holding a two-goal, 8-6 advantage.
Mariano Gonzalez scored a couple of goals, while Obregon marked another score to seal the victory in the game. The attackers of Patagones were not ready to give up, as Donovan scored a goal to reduce the lead to four points. The Equuleus won the game by
four goals and went into the finals of the Ylvisaker Cup. They will face Zacara in the title fight of the event.
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