White Birch bests Equuleus 13-11 in Hampton Cup action

By Alex Webbe

White Birch (Herden Radcliff, Matias Magrini, Mariano Aguerre and Muller) jumped out to an 8-6 halftime lead and held on to register a 13-11 win over Equuleus (Martin Pepa, Magoo Laprida, Mariano Gonzalez and Joe DiMenna) as Hampton Cup play finally got underway again following rain delays at the Bridgehampton Polo Club Saturday morning.

Herndon Radcliff and Matias Magrini scored the opening goals of the game on penalty conversions while holding Equuleus scoreless in the first seven minutes of play.  Radcliff converted a 60-yard penalty shot followed by a 30-yard penalty goal from Magrini for the early 2-0 lead.

Equuleus fought their way back into the game in the second chukker with Martin Pepa and Magoo Laprida scoring goals from the field.  Mariano Gonzalez converted a penalty shot for a goal as well, but White Birch was up to the challenge.  Every member of the White Birch team got on the scoreboard in the second period with Radcliff, Mariano Aguerre, Magrini and Remy Muller scoring single goals.  White Birch left the field with a 6-3 advantage.

Radcliff and Aguerre opened the third chukker with goals from the field to push White Birch in front by five goals, 8-3, but Equuleus stormed back.  Gonzalez converted a pair of 60-yard penalty shots while Laprida added a goal from the field.  At the end of the first half Equuleus had cut the White Birch lead to two goals, 8-6.

Three straight penalty goals from White Birch kicked off the fourth chukker with Aguerre converting a pair of 60-yard penalty shots and Magrini scoring on a 30-yarder to make it 11-6.  Gonzalez responded with a penalty goal of his own and Radcliff closed out the scoring for a 12-7 five goals lead for White Birch.

White Birch seemed to coast in the fifth period, holding Equuleus scoreless from the field but giving up three unanswered penalty goals (all from Gonzalez).  Equuleus had cut the White Birch lead to two goals, 12-10, heading into the final chukker of play.

Muller scored the opening goal of the sixth period with a goal from the field and Gonzalez converted a penalty shot for a goal, but that would be the extent of the scoring as White Birch held on for the 13-11 victory.

Gonzalez led all scoring with eight goals (five on penalty conversions).  Laprida scored twice and Pepa added a goal in the loss.  Radcliff and Aguerre scored four goals each for White Birch.  Magrini was credited with three goals and Muller added two goals for the win.

The win boosts the White Birch record to 2-0 while Equuleus slips to 0-2.