Pony Express vs. Orchard Hill

02/02/2012, 10:00am |

Orchard Hill - 15, Pony Express - 7

A record 16 teams are competing in this year’s Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo club in Wellington, with six of them kicking off the competition on Thursday as Orchard Hill, Valiente I and Circa scored opening victories in the 20-goal competition.

Orchard Hill opened the day with a rousing 15-7 win over Pony Express behind ten goals from Facundo Obregon in the one-sided romp.

“The team went well,” smiled team captain Steve Van Andel following the win. Everything was working for us,” he added.

Pony Express received one goal by handicap and added another on a penalty goal from Tomas Goti in the first chukker, but goals from Lucas Criado and Obregon had it all even at 2-2 at the end of the period.

Goti opened the second with a goal from the field but Criado converted a penalty shot for a goal to keep it all even at 3-3 as the chukker ended.

Obregon got it going in the third period with three consecutive goals to put Orchard Hill on top, 6-3. Goti responded with a pair of penalty goals. Obregon scored his sixth goal of the game on a penalty conversion for a 7-5 halftime lead.

Obregon opened the fourth chukker with a goal from the field that was promptly countered by Goti for Pony Express. A goal from Criado ended the period with Orchard Hill stretching its lead to three goals, 9-6.

Three more goals in the fifth and shutout defense had Orchard Hill galloping off to a 13-6 advantage, picking up a pair of goals from Obregon and a single goal from Pablo Spinacci. After five periods of play, Orchard Hill held a commanding 12-6 lead.

Two final chukker goals from Criado and a tenth goal from Obregon ended the Orchard Hill charge in the 15-7 win. Agustin Grossi managed a single goal in the closing chukker for Pony Express.

Obregon led all scoring with ten goals. Criado scored four times and Spinacci accounted for one goal in the victory.

Goti set the pace for Pony Express with five goals. Grossi added a goal and the team received one goal by handicap.