Nic Roldan led the Audi attack with seven goals, but it was Hilario Ulloa’s fourth goal in sudden-death overtime that secured the win for Circa Sunday afternoon in Joe Barry memorial Cup competition at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
By Alex Webbe
Guille Aguero scored two goals on penalty shots for Circa in the opening chukker, but Audi went up 3-2, picking up goals from Rodrigo Andrade, Nic Roldan (penalty conversion) and team captain Marc Ganzi.
Circa tied it up in and went ahead, 4-3 in the second with Hilario Ulloa and Martin Pepa adding penalty goals on penalty shots, but a closing goal from Roldan left it all even at the end of the chukker, 4-4.
Powerful drives by Brazilian 8-goaler Andrade kept the Audi attack threatening the Circa goal in the third period, but deft defensive play by Circa kept them from scoring from the field. Successive penalty goals from Roldan put Audi back on top, 6-4, but circa s scrambled back with a closing goal from the field from Ulloa. Audi retook the lead, 6-5.
Audi took advantage of circa miscues in the second half, picking up consecutive goals on penalty conversions from Roldan for an 8-6 lead. Pepa kept the game close, however, scoring a gal from the field for Circa to end the chukker trailing Audi by a single goal, 8-7.
Scoring was at a premium in the fifth period, with Audi missing scoring opportunities on three penalty opportunities while Circa made good on a penalty goal from Aguero. After five chukkers of play the score stood all even at 8-8.
Audi seemed to take control of the game again with Roldan converting his sixth penalty shot and Andrade scoring from the field for a 10-8 lead. Halfway through the chukker Aguero broke through the Audi defenses for a score and then weaving his way through the Audi defenses for the tying goal, 10-10, with six seconds left in regulation play. Aguero’s fifth goal of the day forced the game into sudden-death overtime.
After each side had a run at goal, Circa drove the ball deep into Audi territory. Circa pressed the ball in the Audi goal mouth when a foul put Circa at the penalty line. Just three minutes into overtime, Ulloa stoked the ball through the Audi goal for the 11-10 win.
Aguero led the Circa (2-0) team with five goals. Ulloa added four goals to the mix and Martin Pepa scored twice.
“This was a dream come true for me,” said Pepa, following the game. “I never thought that I would be playing in high-goal polo at the International Polo Club,” he beamed, “and now this,” he smiled. “It’s unbelievable!”
Roldan led all scoring with seven goals FOR Audi (1-1). Andrade scored twice and Ganzi added a goal in a losing effort.
Aguero was named MVP for his efforts while Roldan’s Me received Best Playing Pony honors.
VALENTE 1 13, ORCHARD HILL 8
In earlier Joe Barry Memorial Cup action Valiente I took early control of Orchard Hill and rode off with a 13-8 win.
Opening goals from Santiago Bottaro and Jeff Hall (penalty conversion) had Valiente I up, 2-0 as Orchard Hill struggled to find a successful rhythm of play.
Four second chukker goals from Valiente I left Orchard Hill in the dust, 6-1, as Santiago Toccalino scored twice and Hall and Bottaro added single goals. A penalty goal from Facundo Obregon kept Orchard Hill from being shut out, but they trailed Valiente by five goals.
Goals from Toccalino and Hall were countered by a single goal from Orchard Hill’s Lucas Criado as Valiente I left the field at the end of the first half with a commanding 8-2 advantage.
Bottaro added two more goals to the Valiente I total in the fourth period and Hall scored his fourth of the day as they stretched their lead to seven goals, 11-4. Orchard Hill managed a pair of goals from Obregon, but didn’t pick up any ground as they trailed by seven goals.
Orchard Hill managed to put together a couple of successful drives in the fifth chukker. Two goals from Kris Kampsen and shutout play cut the Valiente I lead to five goals, 11-6, with one chukker left to play.
Consecutive goals from Toccalino and Hall put Valiente I in the lead, 13-6 in the sixth and final chukker. Orchard Hill managed to tack on two goals from Obregon (one by penalty shot and one from the field), but it was a case of too little too late with Valiente riding off with the 13-8 victory.
Hall set the pace for Valiente I (1-1) with six goals on the day. Toccalino added five goals and Bottaro scored twice for the win.
Obregon led the Orchard Hill (0-2) attack with five goals. Kampsen scored two goals and Criado chipped in a single goal.
ALEGRIA 14, VILLA DEL LAGO 10
Villa Del Lago put up their best offensive effort of the tournament in Sunday morning play but fell to an experienced Alegria team 14-10 in Barry Memorial Cup action.
Villa Del Lago received one goal by handicap from Alegria and added to it with a goal from Matias Obregon. Alegria tied it up with first chukker goals from Mariano Aguerre (penalty conversion) and a goal from the field from Jake Stimmel.
Magoo Laprida put Villa Del Lago ahead, 3-2, with the opening goal of the second chukker, but that would be the end of the offense thrust. Three consecutive goals from Julian Mannix left Villa Del Lago trailing, 5-3.
Mannix and Aguerre added single penalty goals in the third period while Villa Del Lago answered back with a pair of goals from the field from Laprida. At the end of the first half it was Alegria taking the 7-5 lead.
Alegria exploded for four goals in the fourth chukker with Aguerre scoring twice while Mannix added a penalty goal and Stimmel scored his second goal from the field. Villa Del Lago registered a single penalty goal on a conversion from Pelon Escapite. After four chukkers, Alegria held a commanding 11-6 lead.
Goals from Mannix and Aguerre in the fifth were countered by a penalty goal from Escapite and a single goal from the field from Obregon. Alegria maintained its five goal lead, 13-8.
Not willing to concede anything, Villa Del Lago continued to press the attack. Laprida added two more goals (one on a penalty shot and one from the field) in the final chukker with Aguerre scoring the final goal of the game for the 14-10 Alegria win.
Mannix and Aguerre scored six goals apiece. Stimmel added two goals in the victory.
Laprida scored five times for Villa Del Lago. Escapite and Obregon added two goals each while the team received one goal by handicap.
