Lucchese scored their second consecutive win in the 2012 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington Saturday afternoon as they rolled over Piaget 11-9. Pelon Stirling set the pace in the early going, scoring six of his seven goals in the first half.
By Alex Webbe
Lucchese received one goal by handicap and wasted little time in building a 4-0 lead in the first chukker. Stirling scored the first goal of the game from the field and teammate Andres Weisz added another for a 3-0 lead. Stirling added another goal as Lucchese went up 4-0 before Piaget responded. Miguel Astrada answered for Piaget with a 40-yard penalty conversion and a goal from the field. The first chukker ended with Lucchese boasting a 4-2 advantage.
Stirling and Astrada exchanged goals for the only scoring in the second period and Lucchese held on to a two goal, 5-3 score.
Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi cut the Lucchese lead to a single goal, 5-4, to open the third chukker, but Stirling proved up to the challenge. The Argentine 9-goaler peeled off three consecutive goals (two from the field one on a penalty conversion) followed by a period ending goal from teammate Santiago Torres. After three chukkers of play, Lucchese held a five goal, 9-4 lead.
Piaget continued to press the attack at the second half began. Lucchese fouls put Astrada at the penalty line where he converted two penalty shots for goals. With time running out, however, Stirling connected on a steeply angled neckshot to end the chukker. Lucchese continued to lead Piaget by a 10-6 score.
Piaget ratcheted up its defense in the fifth chukker, shutting out the dangerous Lucchese attack, but was unable to put any points on the scoreboard. After five periods, the score had Lucchese in front, 10-6.
After just one minute of play in the final chukker of the game, a Lucchese foul put Astrada back at the penalty line where he converted a penalty shot for a goal. Less than a minute later, Astrada scored on a second consecutive penalty shot and the Lucchese lead was cut down to two goals, 10-8. Astrada’s third goal of the period had Piaget within a goal of Lucchese, 10-9, but that was where the rally ended. With time running out, Santiago Torres scored the final goal of the game in the 11-9 win.
Piaget’s Astrada led all scoring with eight goals. Ganzi accounted for the only other Piaget goal.
Stirling led Lucchese in scoring with seven goals. Torres scored twice and Weisz added a single goal.
