Audi runs out of gas in 13-10 loss to Las Monjitas
By Alex Webbe
The teams were evenly matched in the early going, but a 4-0 third chukker fueled Las Monjitas (Camilo Bautista, Geronimo Obregon, Eduardo Astradfa and Alejandro Astrada) to a 13-10 win over Audi (Juancito Bollini, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Nico Pieres) in Tuesday’s 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup match at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Nico Pieres scored the first goal of the match from the field in the opening minute of play for the early 1-0 lead. Alejandro Astrada tied it up with a 60-yard penalty shot with five minutes left in the chukker. Juancito Bollini (substituting for Audi team captain Marc Ganzi) scored the final goal of the period to put Audi in front, 2-1.
A penalty goal from Pieres had Audi on top, 3-1but ensuing goals from Camilo Bautista and Alejandro Astrada , who converted s Penalty 5 on an impressive 150-yard shot through the goalposts as time expired, had Las Monjitas and Audi all even at 3-3.
Four consecutive goals from Las Monjitas were combined with shutout defense as Audi fell behind, 7-3 after three chukkers of play. Alejandro Astrada added two more goals on penalty conversions Brother, Eduardo Astrada and Geronimo Obregon added single goals.
Trailing by four goals, Audi tried to get back into the game in the second half, but fell behind even further when Eduardo Astrada took the ball from the throw-in and raced down the field for another Las Monjitas goal, 8-3. Pieres and Nic Roldan scored two goals apiece in the chukker, but Alejandro Astrada scored on another 60-yard penalty shot and Eduardo Astrada added a second goal from the field. After four chukkers of play, Las Monjitas continued to lead, 10-7.
The two teams traded goals in the fifth, with Obregon and Alejandro Astrada (penalty goal) scoring goals for Las Monjitas and Audi countering with goals from Roldan (penalty conversion) and Pieres. Las Monjitas refused to give up any ground and continued to lead by three goals, 12-9.
The pace continued to quicken in the final seven minutes of play. Alejandro Astrada scored a goal from the field at the five minute mark, as Audi struggled to mount an effective attack. Bollini scored the final goal of the game with 57 seconds on the clock and Las Monjitas rode off the field with a 13-10 victory.
Alejandro Astrada scored six of his game high seven goals on penalty shots. Eduardo Astrada added three goals. Obregon scored twice and Bautista scored once for the win. Pieres led the Audi attack with five goals. Roldan scored three times while Bollini accounted for two goals in the loss.
Ylvisaker Cup action continues on Wednesday with a 3pm contest featuring El Cabure and Valiente.