Nespresso 108th US Open Polo Championship

Zacara vs. Alegria

03/31/2012, 10:00 am |

Zacara - 15, Alegria - 10

On the strength of nine goals from Facundo Pieres, Zacara opened the day with a 15-10 win over Alegria as US Open play continued into the weekend.

In a slow-starting game, Mike Azzaro scored the first goal of the game to put Zacara ahead, 1-0, on a goal from the field. Tomas Garcia del Rio responded with a penalty conversion for a tying goal, 1-1, for the only other score of the chukker.

Fred Mannix jumped all over the ball on the ensuing throw-in in the second chukker, carrying it right down the field for a go-ahead goal, 2-1. Pieres tied it up with a penalty goal, 2-2, but Alegria was ready.
Consecutive goals from Mariano Aguerre and Del Rio had Alegria ahead, 6-5. Pieres ended the chukker with a goal in the last 13 seconds for a 6-6 halftime deadlock.

Fourth chukker goals from Pieres and Azzaro were countered by a single goal from Alegria’s Aguerre. Zacara left the field at the end of the chukker with an 8-7 edge.

Laprida was on the receiving end of a well-placed centering pass from Azzaro to open the fifth, 9-7. Del Rio responded with a goal from the field, cutting the Valiente I lead to a single goal, 9-8. Three consecutive goals from Valiente I saw Pieres convert a 40-yard penalty shot while Azzaro added two goals from the field in the last 1:34 of the chukker for a comfortable 12-8 lead.

Laprida took a long pass from Pieres to score the opening goal of the sixth chukker just 20 seconds into play. Aguerre converted a 60-yard penalty shot, 13-9, followed by a steal by Pieres who carried the ball at a full clip 280 yards down the field to score, 14-9. Aguerre converted a Safety (60-yard penalty conversion), 14-10, but Pieres closed out the game with his ninth goal of the match for a 15-10 win.

Aguerre scored four goals for Alegria (two by penalty). Del Rio was credited with three goals (two by penalty). Julian Mannix scored twice and Fred Mannix added a goal in the loss.

Pieres lit them up with nine goals (four by penalty). Azzaro added four goals and Laprida scored twice.