Lechuza in Hampton Cup final with 9-8 win
By Alex Webbe
Lechuza (Victor Vargas, Mariano Gracida, Juan Martin Nero and Tomas Goti) trailed throughout most of the game but rallied with three last chukker goals to score a 9-8 win over Equuleus (Martin Pepa, Magoo Laprida, Mariano Gonzalez and Joe DiMenna) to earn a berth in Tuesday’s finals of the 2013 Hampton Cup at the Bridgehampton Polo Club Saturday afternoon.
Mariano Gonzalez scored the first goal of the game on a penalty shot followed by a goal from the field from teammate Magoo Laprida. Lechuza was held scoreless and trailed 2-0 after the first chukker of play.
The two teams exchanged goals in the second period with Martin Pepa scoring twice for Equuleus while Lechuza got single goals from team captain Victor Vargas and Tomas Goti (a penalty conversion). Equuleus continued to lead, 4-2.
Goti scored twice for Lechuza in the third (one on a penalty conversion) while Equuleus was held to a single goal from the field from Gonzalez. Equuleus held the lead, but the margin was cut to a single goal, 5-4, at the end of the first half.
Lechuza took the field in the fourth and produced shutout defense. The only goal of the chukker came on a penalty conversion from Goti. The game was all even at 5-5 after four chukkers of play.
Vargas scored his second goal of the match in the fifth chukker, but Equuleus came up with goals from Gonzalez (penalty goal) and Laprida. Equuleus took the lead back, 7-6, going into the final chukker of play.
Equuleus was held to a single goal from Laprida in the final chukker while Goti scored three times for Lechuza. Lechuza rode off the field at the end of the sixth period with a 9-8 victory.
Goti led all scoring with seven goals (four on penalty shots). Vargas added two goals for the win. Equuleus got three goals each from Laprida and Gonzalez and a pair of goals from Pepa in a losing effort.