Flat Out vs. Santa Clara

02/04/2012, 10:00 am | Jan Pamela

Santa Clara - 12, Flat Out - 10

Flat Out received one goal by handicap from the 14-goal Santa Clara team and wasted little time in adding to it. Goals from Todd Offen and Leo Mandelbaum had Flat Out boasting a 3-0 lead when Santa Clara finally got into step. A pressing Santa Clara attack resulted in three first chukker penalties which 7-goaler Luis Escobar converted into goals. The first period ended in a 3-3 tie.

Robert Orthwein converted two penalty shots for goals in the second for Flat Out, but Santa Clara was quick to respond. A pair of goals from Escobar (one from the field and one on a penalty shot) and a single goal from Geronimo Obregon gave them a narrow 6-5 lead to end the chukker.

Two more goals from Escobar and a goal from Carlos Avendano gave Santa Clara a 9-6 halftime lead. Flat Out got a single goal from Offen in the chukker as they trailed by three goals.

Offen supplied all of the offense in the fourth chukker, as the second half got off to a slow start. Offen converted a 60-yard Safety for the only firepower in the period, cutting the Santa Clara lead to two goals, 9-7.

Single goals from Offen and Orthwein went unanswered in the fifth as Flat Out tied it up at 9-9. Both teams missed critical penalty shots for the second straight chukker.

Santa Clara finally broke free in the final chukker, getting two more goals from Escobar and another goal from Obregon. Flat Out managed no more than a single goal from Orthwein in the last chukker as Santa Clara rode off with the 12-10 win.

Escobar led all scoring with nine goals on the day. Obregon accounted for two goals and Avendano scored once.

Orthwein and Offen scored four goals apiece. Mandelbaum added a goal in the loss.