Valiente I vs. Alegria

03/10/2012, 12:00 pm |

Alegria - 8, Valiente I - 7

Valiente I scored the first three goal of the game before Alegria could respond but it would be Alegria that would ultimately ride off with an 8-7 win after an injured Nacho Astrada (9) would leave the field.

Valiente I team captain Bob Jornayvaz scored the opening goal of the game on a run from midfield just two-and-a-half minutes into the game for the 1-0 lead. Miguel Astrada and Nacho Astrada added to the lead with single goals from the field to put Valiente I in front, 3-0. Tomas Garcia Del Rio kept Alegria from being shut out with a beautifully executed 60-yard neck shot with three seconds on the clock. Valiente I took the early lead, 3-1.

A penalty conversion by Miguel Astrada in the second chukker was countered by a goal from the field from Alegria’s Mariano Aguerre. Valiente I continued to hold a two goal lead, 4-2.

Two minutes into the third chukker, Valiente I’s nacho Astrada suffered an injury to his riding muscle and was forced to retire. After a 15 minute delay, Santiago Toccalino (8) was brought in to replace him and play resumed. A Valiente I foul sent Alegria to the penalty line where Del Rio converted the shot for a goal. The first half came to an end with Valiente I holding on to a narrow 4-3 lead.

As the second half opened, Alegria took advantage of the loss of Nacho Astrada by pressuring the Valiente I defense. A tying goal from Del Rio with two-and-a-half minutes to play, 4-4, was followed by a go-ahead goal from Aguerre with 11 seconds on the clock, 5-4.

The fifth period marked the third consecutive chukker in which Valiente I failed to score. Two goals from Del Rio (one on a well-executed tail shot and another on a penalty conversion) and a goal from Aguerre had the momentum continuing to build for Alegria. Valiente I trailed 8-4 with one chukker left in the game.

Valiente I continued to struggle through the first couple of minutes of the sixth chukker before Miguel Astrada managed to score, 8-5. A minute later it was Polito Pieres who split the goal posts for a second consecutive Valiente I goal. Aguerre struggled to control the ball and stem the growing Valiente I rally. An Alegria penalty allowed Miguel Astrada the opportunity to attempt a 60-yard penalty shot, which he converted, and the Alegria lead was cut to one goal, 8-7. Both teams fought for control of the throw-in with neither having the clear upper hand. The clock continued to run as Valiente I fought to create a scoring opportunity, after the 30 second horn sounded. An Alegria player drove the ball to the sideboards to end the game and deliver Alegria a much needed 8-7 win.

Del Rio and Aguerre scored four goals apiece on the day.

Miguel Astrada was credited with four goals for Valiente I (two on penalty conversions). Nacho Astrada, Pieres and Jornayvaz scored single goals in the loss.