Zacara vs. Valiente II/Tonkawa

02/29/2012, 1:00 pm |

Zacara - 11, Valiente II/Tonkawa - 5

In the opening semifinal of the day, Robert Jornayvaz and his Valiente II team handily defeated a challenging Zacara foursome 11-5 after getting caught up in a low-scoring opening half of play.
Pelon Stirling, scored the first goal of the day for Valiente II, but 10-goaler Facundo Pieres responded with a goal for Zacara. Alejo Tanaca gave Valiente II a 2-1 advantage on a goal from the field, but Zacara wasn’t through. A goal from Pieres tied it up at 2-2 and closed out the scoring in the opening chukker of play.
Defense was the word of the day as Zacara and Valiente II battled through a scoreless second period of play. Shots on goal went wide, saving backhanders were made, and at the end of two chukkers of action the score was deadlocked at 2-2.
A concerted Valiente II effort garnered them two goals in the third while a resolute defense held them scoreless for the second consecutive chukker. A goal from Adolfo Cambiaso was followed by a scoring effort made by Stirling. At the end of the first half Valiente II rode off the field with a 4-2 advantage.
A penalty conversion from Pieres opened the second half, but Valiente II continued to pressure the Zacara attack. Cambiaso added two goals with Cambiaso accounting for both of them (one from the field and one on a 40-yard penalty shot). With two chukkers left in regulation time, Valiente II led 6-3.
Zacara continued to try and control the pace of the game, but were unable to keep Valiente II off of the scoreboard. Two more goals from Cambiaso were answered by single goals from Pieres and Magoo Laprida. The Valiente II lead held at three goals, 8-5.
Zacara rode onto the field in the sixth chukker determined to get back into the game, but Valiente II was determined as well. Cambiaso scored once from the field in the sixth and converted two 60-yard penalty shots, and the defense held. A deflated Zacara offense fell flat as Valiente II rode on to capture the match 11-5 and boost the team into the 4 pm Sunday Royal Salute C. V. Whitney Cup finals.
Cambiaso scored eight times for Valiente II. Stirling added two goals and Tanaca scored once in the win.