Nespresso 108th US Open Polo Championship

Las Monjitas vs. Orchard Hill

04/12/2012, 5:00 pm |

Orchard Hill - 7, Las Monjitas - 5

Orchard Hill scored a 7-5 win over Las Monjitas in a low-scoring game that launched Orchard Hill into Sunday’s 2012 Nespresso US Open quarterfinal play and eliminated Las Monjitas from this hears competition.

Lucas Criado gave Orchard Hill the first goal of the game from the field, but Inaki Laprida managed to tie it up before the end of the first chukker, 1-1.

Orchard hill added three unanswered goals in the second chukker with 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough, team captain Steve Van Andel and Mariano Gonzalez adding single goals for the 4-1 lead.

A scoreless third period had both teams missing shots at goal and on passes to teammates. After three chukkers of action, Alegria limped to the sidelines, trailing by three goals and having only one goal of offense to show for three periods of play.

Las Monjitas team captain, Camilo Bautista, scored the team’s first goal of the second half, 4-2. Criado added his second goal of the game, but a final goal from Javier Astrada cut the Orchard Hill to two goals, 5-3.

The two teams exchanged goals in the fifth with Criado scoring for Orchard Hill and Laprida registering a goal for Las Monjitas. Orchard Hill continued to lead, 6-4.

Las Monjitas couldn’t get anything working for them in the final period of play until 10-goaler Eduardo Astrada finally broke through the Orchard Hill defense to score. MacDonough ended the scoring with a goal from the field for the 7-5 win.

Criado registered three goals for Orchard Hill. Macdonough scored twice and Van Andel and Gonzalez added single goals in the victory.

Laprida led the feeble Las Monjitas attack with two goals. Bautista, Eduardo Astrada and Javier Astrada added single goals in the loss.

Quarterfinal play is scheduled for Sunday, April 15 with Audi (3-1) opening with ERG (2-1) at 10 am; followed by a match between Lechuza Caracas (3-1) and Orchard Hill (1-2).Valiente I will face-off with Valiente II at 2 pm; and Zacara (3-0) will meet Coca-Cola (2-2) at 4 pm.