Zacara and Villa Del Lago remain undefeated in
Joe Barry Memorial Cup action

By Alex Webbe

Villa Del Lago scored their second consecutive victory in the 2013 Joe Barry Memorial
Cup Friday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington in an exciting 13-12
overtime win at the expense of a scrappy Lechuza Caracas foursome. The victory gave
them a 2-0 as they remain as one of only five teams in the fourteen team field without a
loss.

Tomas Goti scored two opening chukker goals (one on a penalty shot) for Lechuza
Caracas but Villa Del Lago responded with a pair of goals from Magoo Laprida and a
penalty conversion for a goal from Polito Pieres. Villa Del Lago took the early lead, 3-2.

The two teams matched one another goal for goal in the second. Lechuza picked up
two goals on penalty shots from Goti and another goal from the field from team captain
Victor Vargas. Laprida answered back with three goals, two on penalty conversions, as
Villa Del Lago held on to a narrow 6-5 edge.

Villa Del Lago picked up a goal on a penalty shot from Laprida in the opening seconds
of the third chukker for a 7-5 two goal lead. A minute later Pieres added another goal
from the field, 8-5. Vargas kept Lechuza Caracas in the fight as he scored his second
goal of the game in the final minute of the first half. After three chukkers of play Villa
Del Lago led, 8-6.

The battle raged on as the second half got underway. Both defenses tightened, and
it was almost four minutes into the fourth chukker when Goti’s third penalty goal of the
match cut the Villa Del Lago lead to a single goal, 8-7. Pieres closed out the period with
consecutive scores to put Villa Del Lago ahead by three goals, 10-7.

Goti converted a penalty shot for a goal as the fifth period opened, 10-8, and teammate
Vargas added his third goal of the day, cutting the Villa Del Lago lead back to a single
goal, 10-9. Midway through the chukker Goti connected on his fifth penalty shot for
a tying goal, 10-10. A final drive by Villa Del Lago resulted in a goal from Agustin
Obregon. Villa Del Lago left the field with an 11-10 advantage.

Sixth chukker action had Obregon scoring to extend the Villa Del Lago lead to two
goals, 12-10. Lechuza Caracas fought their way back into the game on a pair of goals
from Goti that ended regulation play in a 12-12 deadlock.

Following a brief intermission both teams returned to the field for the sudden-death
overtime. After a brief skirmish following the throw-in, Villa Del Lago was awarded what
appeared to be a game-ending 30-yard penalty shot. Laprida’s aim was off, however,
and the game played on. Laprida redeemed himself, however, picking up the loose ball
and scoring the winning goal on a shot from the field, 13-12.

The victory boosts the Villa Del Lago record to 2-0 while Lechuza Caracas fell to 0-2.

ZACARA 9, LUCCHESE 8

In the final tournament match of the day, 10-goaler Facundo Pieres scored the opening
goal of the game for Zacara, but Lucchese came storming back. A goal from the field
from Andres Weisz and two more goals from Sebastian Merlos had Lucchese in front
after the first chukker, 3-1.

Pieres scored early in the second period to cut the Lucchese lead to a single goal, 3-2,
but despite an oppressive defense, Lucchese wasn’t through. With over four minutes
gone in the chukker, Merlos scored his third goal of the day. After two periods of play
Lucchese continued to hold the advantage, 4-2.

Lucchese showed no signs of letting up on the dangerous Zacara lineup, adding two
more goals on penalty shots from Jason Crowder to move on top, 6-2. Zacara finally
broke free of their Lucchese defenders with Ulloa scoring a goal from the field and
Pieres adding a penalty goal and a goal from the field. At the end of the first half the
Lucchese lead had been trimmed to a single goal, 6-5.

Zacara pitched shutout defense in the fourth chukker, but were limited to a single goal
on a penalty conversion Pieres. The score was all even at 6-6.

Crowder scored a goal from the field in the opening minutes of the fifth period to squeak
ahead, 7-6, as both teams fought for control of the ball. A violent collision in the mouth
of the Lucchese goal resulted in a Penalty 1, and automatic goal awarded to Zacara,
7-7. Hilario Ulloa scored the go-ahead goal for Zacara in the final 40 seconds of the
chukker for an 8-7 edge.

The final chukker had Pieres scoring his sixth goal of the game on a shot from the field
for a two goal, 9-7 lead. Crowder responded with a penalty conversion for a goal a
minute later to bring Lucchese to within a goal of Zacara, but it was not to be. Time ran
out with Lucchese frantically attempting to mount a final assault, and Zacara took the
game, 9-8.

Zacara’s (2-0) next game will be against an undefeated Valiente (2-0) team Sunday
morning. Lucchese (0-2) will play Piaget (0-2) that same morning.

Competition continues in the 2013 Joe Barry Memorial Cup on Saturday, January 19
with three matches that include a 10am contest between Orchard Hill (1-1) and Coca-
Cola (0-2); a 1pm meeting between Goose Creek (2-0) and Crab Orchard (1-1); and a
3pm matchup between La Herradura (2-0) and Audi (1-1).