Pony Express vs. Valiente I

02/10/2012, 1:00 pm |

Valiente I - 9, Pony Express - 7

Valiente I scored their third straight tournament win in a 9-7 win over Pony Express and assured itself a spot in the tournament quarterfinals with a bracket winning finish.

Valiente I got opening goals from Robert Jornayvaz and Jeff Hall, but Pony Express took advantage of one goal by handicap from the 20-goal Valiente I team and added a goal from the field from Tomas Goti for a 2-2 first chukker.

Hall added another goal in the second period, but was countered by a goal from Pony Express team captain Bob Daniels, and the second period ended in a 3-3 deadlock.

Santiago Toccalino scored the first goal of the third chukker for Valiente I for a short-lived 4-3 lead. Goti countered for Pony Express for a 4-4 halftime tie.

Juan Garcia Grossi and Goti scored consecutive goals to open the fourth chukker for a 6-4 lead. Toccalino scored a final penalty goal as Valiente I trailed Pony Express, 6-5.

Valiente I exploded with four straight goals in the fifth. Toccalino scored twice with teammates Hall and Santiago Bottaro adding single goals for a 9-6 lead. Nick Snow cut into the Valiente I lead with a goal from the field for Pony Express to end the period, now trailing, 9-7.

Pony Express pressed and Valiente I’s defense held as the scoreless sixth chukker passed with no scoring and resulting in the 9-7 Valiente I win.

Toccalino scored four goals for Valiente I. Hall added three goals and Bottaro and Jornayvaz added single goals in the victory.

Pony Express got three goals from Goti and single goals from Grossi, Snow and Daniels. Pony Express also received one goal by handicap.