Tonkawa opens Freebooters Classic with 7-5 win

By Alex Webbe

Jeff Hildebrand’s Tonkawa team opened the 2013 14-goal Freebooters Classic with a
7-5 win over a competitive Mt. Brilliant/Equine Law Group Saturday afternoon at the
International Polo Club.

The two teams met for the second time in a week, as Tonkawa scored an exciting 12-
11 win over the same lineup on January 26 in the finals of the 14-goal season opening
Wanderers Classic.

“I’ve only played in two tournaments here,” said Hildebrand after last week’s Wanderers
Classic win, “and I’ve won both tournaments,” he smiled.

This week was not much easier and goals were certainly harder to come by as
Tonkawa got first chukker goals from Nic Roldan and Brandon Phillips for an early 2-1
lead. Kris Kampsen converted a 60-yard penalty shot for a goal for Mt. Brilliant/ELG.

Second period action centered around, defense with neither team able to score. Only
one penalty was whistled in the entire chukker. After two periods of play the score
stood at 2-1, Tonkawa.

Tonkawa extended its lead to two goals in the third with Phillips and Agustin Arellano
each scoring a goal. Mt. Brilliant/ELG capitalized on another 60-yard penalty
conversion from Kampsen but fell behind 4-2 at the end of the first half.

Second half play droned on with neither team able to score from the field. Kampsen
notched another penalty shot for a goal, however, cutting the lead to a single goal, 4-3.

Phillips and Kampsen exchanged goals in the fifth period as both teams struggled
to establish any kind of offensive rhythm. The fifth chukker ended with Tonkawa
maintaining the lead, 5-4.

Hildebrand and Avery chapman exchanged penalty shots in the sixth chukker and
Phillips capped it off with a goal from the field for the 7-5 win.

Phillips led the Tonkawa attack with four goals, Roldan, Arellano and Hildebrand each
added a goal in the win. Kampsen scored three of his team-high four goals on penalty
conversions. Chapman added a penalty goal in the loss.