Tonkawa beats Villa Del Lago; will play La Casa Hermosa in finals

A depleted Villa Del Lago lineup fell victim to the veteran Tonkawa side, 11-9, Wednesday afternoon in the final round of preliminary play in the 14-goal Freebooters Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington. The victory boosts Tonkawa into Saturday’s tournament finals against La Casa Hermosa.

Missing Jim Zenni (0) and Polito Pieres (8), Villa Del Lago rode onto the field with only two members of the team’s normal lineup, Jared Zenni (2) and Agustin Obregon (4). They were joined by Diego Arellano (2) and Marcos Bignoli, competing as a 12-goal team.

Villa Del Lago received two goals by handicap from the 14-goal Tonkawa team and added first chukker goals from Agustin Obregon and Jared Zenni for an early 4-0 lead. Agustin Arellano got Tonkawa on the scoreboard with a goal from the field, but trailed Villa Del Lago by three goals, 4-1, at the end of the first chukker.

Jeff Hildebrand opened the scoring in the second period with a penalty conversion followed by a goal from the field from Brandon Phillips. Villa Del Lago picked up a pony goal and ended the chukker with a two goal, 5-3 advantage.

Tonkawa broke loose in the third chukker with Hildebrand adding another penalty goal and Nic Roldan scoring twice from the field. At the end of the first half of play Tonkawa left the field on top of a 6-5 score.

A pair of fourth chukker goals from Phillips were answered by a penalty conversion from Obregon. The Tonkawa lead had been extended to two goals, 8-6 to close out the period.

Phillips scored his fourth goal of the game in the fifth chukker. Obregon responded with a goal for Villa Del Lago. After five chukkers of play Tonkawa maintained a two goal lead, 9-7.

Hildebrand converted his third penalty shot of the game in the sixth, followed by a goal from Roldan to give Tonkawa a four goal lead, 11-7. Marcos Bignoli, Jr. and Zenni closed out the game with single goals as Tonkawa celebrated the victory and a berth in Saturday’s Noon showdown with La Casa Hermosa for the tournament title.

Phillips led a balanced Tonkawa attack with four goals. Hildebrand and Roldan scored three goals apiece and Arellano added a goal for the win. Obregon was credited with three goals for Villa Del Lago.

Tonkawa will meet La Casa Hermosa on Saturday at noon to decide the tournament championship.