Goose Creek vs. Flat Out

02/09/2012, 3:00 pm |

Goose Creek - 16, Flat Out - 9

Flat Out got off to an aggressive start Thursday afternoon, picking up one goal by handicap and galloping off to a 4-2 first chukker lead in the 2012 Freebooters Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington, but that was where the rid ended.

Goose Creek responded with a total of nine goals in the second and third chukkers on their way to a resounding 16-9 thrashing of Flat Out in the 14-goal tournament.

Paul Knapp put the first goal on the scoreboard for Flat Out with a goal from the field. Todd Offen added a pair of 60-yard penalty conversions for a 4-2 lead (Flat Out received one goal by handicap). Cote Zegers and Steve Krueger accounted for single goals for Goose Creek in the opening chukker.

Goose Creek exploded in the second chukker with Krueger adding two more goals and Alejandro Vial and Zegers (penalty goal) added single goals for a 6-5 lead. Offen accounted for Flat Out’s only goal.

Knapp added another Flat Out goal in the third period, but Goose Creek was running on all eight cylinders as they added five more goals to their total. Maureen Brennan and Krueger added single goals to the pile while Vial converted two penalty shots and added a goal from the field. At the end of the first half Goose Creek was sitting on top of an 11-6 lead while Flat Out was struggling to find answers.

The pace slowed down a bit as the first half opened. Flat Out delivered no offense at all, while Goose Creek was content to pick up one more goal from Vial. With just two chukkers left in regulation time, Goose Creek held a commanding 12-6 advantage.

Vial converted a 60-yard penalty shot and added two more goals from the field in the fifth while Flat Out had to settle for a single penalty goal from Robert Orthwein. With seven minutes left to play, Goose Creek held an impressive eight goal, 15-7 lead.

Offen and Leo Mandelbaum tallied single goals in the final chukker for Flat Out while Vial scored his ninth goal of the match in the 16-9 win.

Offen led the Flat Out scoring with four goals. Knapp scored twice; Orthwein and Mandelbaum each added a goal and the team received one goal by handicap.

Vial led all scoring with nine goals. Krueger chipped in four goals; Zegers added two and Brennan scored once in the victory.