Zacara vs. Valiente I

04/12/2012, 1:00 pm |

Zacara - 11, Valiente I - 9

Valiente I needed a win over Zacara to avoid playing stable-mate Valiente II in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Nespresso US Open, but that wouldn’t happen. Zacara rode out to an early 3-1 lead in the 1pm contest, and never trailed.

Miguel Astrada led an early Valiente I attack, scoring the opening goal and putting his team ahead, 1-0, and leading his teammates up and down the field in hopes of growing an early lead that would carry them to victory, but Zacara had other plans. Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres scored three consecutive goals (two from the field and one on a penalty conversion) to end the chukker with Zacara in possession of a 3-1 advantage.

Both defenses tightened, but Valiente I continued to display more drive as attack after attack was turned aside by the Zacara defenders. Two minutes into the game, Miguel Astrada converted a penalty shot for a Valiente I goal, 3-2. Facundo Pieres answered back with a 40-yard penalty shot just before the end of the second chukker for a 4-2 lead.

Mike Azzaro extended the Zacara lead to three goals, 5-3, in the third, and a goal from teammate Magoo Laprida had Valiente I trailing by four goals, 6-3. Back-to-back goals from Polito Pieres in the final two minutes of play ended the chukker with Zacara ahead, 6-4 at halftime.

Facundo Pieres opened the second half with a quick goal from the field, 7-4, but Valiente I was getting its offense back on track. Consecutive goals from Nacho Astrada Miguel Astrada cut the Zacara lead to a single goal, 7-6. Laprida and Miguel Astrada traded goals in the final minutes of the chukker with Zacara guarding a fragile 8-7 edge.

The Zacara defense denied wave after wave of Valiente I offense while nabbing single goals from Azzaro and Facundo Pieres. The fifth period ended with Zacara leading by three goals, 10-7.

Polito Pieres go Valiente I on the scoreboard in the opening minute of action with a goal from the field, 10-8, but that was where it effective ended. Valiente I struggled to find a successful scoring combination and a rarely awarded Penalty 1 (a free goal) was awarded to Zacara when they were fouled in the mouth of the Valiente I goal while attempting to score, 11-8. Polito Pieres managed a face-saving goal in the final minute of the game for an 11-9 Zacara win.

Facundo Pieres was credited with six goals (one by penalty) on the day. Laprida and

Azzaro added two goals apiece and the team received one goal by penalty.

Polito Pieres and Miguel Astrada scored four goals each for Valiente I. One of Miguel’s goals came on a penalty shot. Nacho Astrada added one goal in the loss.