ERG vs. Equuleus

02/03/2012, 1:00 pm |

Equuleus - 12, ERG - 11

Both Equuleus and ERG made their 2012 debuts Friday afternoon in an opening round of the Ylvisaker Cup, but showed mid-season form as they battled to a 12-11 Equuleus win in the 20-goal competition.

Agustin Merlos opened the scoring with a penalty goal for ERG, but Equuleus promptly responded with a penalty goal from Mariano Gonzalez. Goals from ERG team captain Scott Wood and teammate Ulysses Escapite ended with ERG leading, 3-1.

Another penalty goal from Merlos in the second had ERG up, 4-1. Gonzalez scored on a 60-yard penalty shot and Paco de Narvaez scored on a beautifully executed backhander-from an angle, making it a one goal game, 4-3. Merlos added a final goal, and ERG preserved its lead, 5-3.

Escapite’s second goal on the afternoon had ERG leading by three goals in the fourth chukker, 6-3, when Equuleus stormed back into the game. De Narvaez scored once from the field and once on a penalty shot, and the period ended with ERG defending a narrow 6-5 advantage at the end of the first half against a surging Equuleus team.

Merlos converted a 60-yard penalty shot in the fifth chukker, but that would be the last ERG goal scored for the duration of the period. Gonzalez added two penalty goals to the Equuleus total and de Narvaez scored a goal from the field. With one chukker left to play, ERG trailed 11-9.

Merlos cut the Equuleus lead to a single goal with his fourth penalty goal of the match, and Luis Escobar tied it up, 11-11, with his first goal of the game.

Gonzalez scored his sixth penalty goal of the day for a 12-11 lead that held up in the final 34 seconds of play, and Equuleus celebrated its 12-11 win.

Gonzalez led all scoring with seven goals. De Narvaez scored five times in a winning effort.

Merlos led the ERG team with six goals. Escapite added two goals and Wood and Escobar each scored a goal.