Piaget vs. Las Monjitas

03/08/2012, 10:00 am |

Piaget - 10, Las Monjitas - 9

Wins by Piaget, Lechuza and Valiente II highlighted the second day of play in the 2012 USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

In the opening game of the day Piaget led a talented Las Monjitas team throughout most of the game before having to stage a last chukker rally to capture a 10-9 victory.

Javier Astrada scored the first goal of the game on a penalty conversion, but was quickly answered by a goal from the field from Gonzalito Pieres and a penalty goal from Jeff Hall. The early lead went to Piaget, 2-1.

Javier Astrada tied it at 2-2 in the second chukker with a goal from the field, but Nico Pieres went to work, scoring twice for Piaget for a 4-2 advantage.

Gonzalito Pieres put on an exhibition in ball control to open the third period, carrying the ball through, around and past all opposition before depositing it between the Las Monjitas goal posts for a 5-2 lead. An oppressive defense kept Las Monjitas from scoring while Hall added another penalty goal to the Piaget total. At the end of the first half, Piaget was sitting on top of a 6-2 score.

A determined Las Monjitas ream took the field in the fourth chukker determined to get back into the game. A penalty goal from Javier Astrada and a goal from the field from Eduardo Astrada cut the Piaget lead to two goals, 6-4. Hall closed out the chukker with a goal from the field and a 7-4 Piaget lead.

Eduardo Astrada cut the Piaget lead to two goals with the opening goal of the fifth. Gonzalito Pieres responded with a goal from the field and Hall converted a penalty shot to lead, 7-4. Eduardo Astrada scored the last goal of the chukker, but Piaget continued to lead, 9-6.

A refreshed Las Monjitas team returned to the field for the final chukker of the game. Ten-goaler Eduardo Astrada scored two quick goals for Las Monjitas, and the Piaget lead was cut to a single goal, 9-8. With 42 seconds left in regulation play, Javier Astrada took advantage of a Piaget foul to tie it up on a penalty conversion, 9-9. Time was running out, neither team had managed to break through for the tie-breaker until a long drive down field put Hall in position to drive the ball through the Las Monjitas goal posts for the 10-9 win.

Hall’s four goals (two on penalty shots) led the Piaget attack with Gonzalito Pieres and his brother Nico Pieres scoring three times apiece in the victory.

Javier Astrada and Eduardo Astrada scored for goals each (three of Eduardo’s goals were on penalty conversions). Laprida added a goal.