La Casa Hermosa gallops past Villa Del Lago, 16-11 in 14-Goal Freebooters Classic
By Alex Webbe
La Casa Hermosa made an impressive debut in the 14-goal Freebooters classic at the International Polo club with a 16-11 win over a talented Villa Del Lago lineup.
Jared Zenni scored the opening goal of the game for Villa Del Lago but La Casa Hermosa railed back with three consecutive goals and a 3-1 first chukker lead. Julio Gracida converted a 40-yard penalty shot for La Casa Hermosa that was followed by a pair of goals from teammate Brad Blake.
Four more La Casa Hermosa goals kept Villa Del Lago at bay in the second frame, with Gracida and Brad Blake each chipping in a pair of goals. Villa Del Lago responded with a 40 –yard and a 60-yard penalty conversion from Polito Pieres and a goal from the field from Jared Zenni. La Casa Hermosa maintained the lead, 7-4 after two periods.
The pace continued in the third, but both offenses were stifled by disciplined defenses. Pieres scored a single goal for Villa Del Lago while Gracida countered with a goal for La Casa Hermosa. At the end of the first half La Casa Hermosa continued to lead, 8-5.
La Casa Hermosa extended its lead to five goals in the fourth. Jeff Blake (Brad’s older brother) scored on a penalty shot and added a goal from the field. Gracida added his fifth goal of the game and La Casa Hermosa rode off with an 11-6 advantage. Villa Del Lago managed a single penalty goal from Pieres.
Villa Del Lago made a run at La Casa Hermosa in the fifth on the strength of three goals from Pieres (two on penalty conversions) and a goal from the field from Jim Zenni (Jared’s father). Brad Blake accounted for La Casa Hermosa’s only goal of the chukker, but they held the lead, 12-10.
La Casa Hermosa made a statement in the final period of the game. After Jeff Blake and Jared Zenni exchanged goals, 13-11, La Casa Hermosa closed out the match with three unanswered goals. Jeff Blake added two more and Gracida added another in the 16-11 victory.
Pieres led all scoring with seven goals (five on penalty conversions). Jared Zenni scored three times and Jim Zenni added a goal in the loss. Gracida led the La Casa Hermosa attack with six goals (one on a penalty shot). Jeff Blake added five goals (to on penalty conversions) and Brad Blake scored four of his five goals from the field.
"Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly" 
Rabii Benadada
