Valiente I vs. Valiente II/Tonkawa

04/15/2012, 2:00 pm |

Valiente I - 14, Valiente II/Tonkawa - 11

The match so many were waiting for with great anticipation Sunday afternoon turned out to be a bust with 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso being forced to resign after the first three chukkers due to a previously injured mallet hand. Cambiaso was replaced by 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough, but the chemistry wasn’t the same as they fell 14-11.

Pelon Stirling put Valiente II on top after the first chukker with a goal from the field and a penalty goal. Valiente I responded with a goal from Nacho Astrada, and trailed Valiente II, 2-1.
Second chukker goals from Stirling and Cambiaso had Valiente II in front by three goals, 4-1, with the two 10-goal stars playing as if they had played together all of their lives. A physical defense kept Valiente I from scoring as they fell behind by three goals.

The wheels came off the wagon for Valiente II in the third chukker with Valiente I putting five goals on the scoreboard while holding Valiente II to a single goal from Stirling. Two goals from Nacho Astrada and single goals from Miguel Astrada and Polito Pieres tied it up at 5-5 at the end of the first half.

Bad news for Valiente II as it was learned that Cambiaso’s injury wouldn’t allow him to continue. Ten-goaler Pablo MacDonough’s team had been eliminated from the Open earlier in the day, and he was pressed into service. Initially the addition seemed to be a boost to the Valiente II team. A pair of penalty conversions from Pieres was countered by single goals from Alejo Taranco and Stirling. MacDonough added a goal from the field and a penalty goal as Valiente II moved ahead, 9-7.

A vengeful Valiente I cadre showed a whole new face in the fifth chukker, physically manhandling their opponents as they rang up five goals while limiting Valiente II to a single penalty goal. Fouls continued to get Valiente II into trouble, having already given up four penalty scores in the last two chukkers. Nacho Astrada would score two of his three goals from the penalty line while teammate Pieres would also convert a penalty shot for a goal. Miguel Astrada added a goal from the field as Valiente I took a two goals lead, 12-10. Stirling scored Valiente II’s only goal on a penalty shot.

Two more penalty goals in the sixth chukker for Valiente I as Pieres and Nacho Astrada struck again were answered with a single penalty goal from MacDonough for the final 14-11 score in the Valiente win.

Nacho Astrada scored a game high seven goals (four on penalty shots). Pieres added five penalty goals and Miguel Astrada played brilliantly, adding two goals in the victory.

Stirling accounted for six Valiente II goals (two on penalty shots). Macdonough scored three times (twice on penalty shots). Cambiaso and Taranco scored single goals in the loss.