Mt. Brilliant stops Faraway in Wanderers Classic, 10-7

By Alex Webbe

Bo Goodman and his Mt. Brilliant (1-0) team made their first appearance in the 14-goal Wanderers Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington as he led his teammates to a 10-7 win over his brother Hutton Goodman’s Faraway (1-1) foursome.

Mt. Brilliant’s Brandon Phillips converted a 40-yard penalty shot for a goal to open the game, with Tomas Obregon answering back with a penalty conversion of his own for a 1-1 tie. Tommy Collingwood put Mt. Brilliant on top of a 2-1 lead to end the first chukker of play.

The Faraway defense kept Mt. Brilliant off the scoreboard in the second frame, but managed just one goal on another penalty shot from Obregon. After two chukkers the score was all even at 2-2.

Phillips scored on another penalty shot in the third and Collingwood scored his second goal from the field as Mt. Brilliant rode out to a 4-2 lead. Juan Valerdi kept Faraway from being shut out, converting a shot from the field to end the chukker. Mt. Brilliant held on to a narrow 4-3 halftime lead.

Goodman and Juan Monteverde each scored single goals for Mt. Brilliant with Obregon responding with two penalty goals for Faraway. Mt. Brilliant continued to hold a one goal, 6-5 advantage.

Obregon tied it up at 6-6 in the fifth period but Phillips fired back for Mt. Brilliant with a goal from the field followed by a 60-yard penalty conversion. At the end of five chukkers Mt. Brilliant was leading 8-6.

Valerdi scored the first goal of the sixth chukker, 8-7, but that was the last firepower Faraway could produce. Goals from the field from Collingwood and Phillips ended the game as Mt. Brilliant took the match, 10-7.

Phillips was credited with five goals for Mt. Brilliant. Collingwood scored three times and Goodman and Monteverde added single goals for the win.

Obregon paced Faraway with five goals. Valerdi scored twice.