Coca-Cola takes Herbie Pennell Cup with an 11-7 win

By Alex Webbe

Coca-Coal scored a comfortable 11-7 win over Villa Del Lago in the opening game of the 2012 high-
goal polo season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach Sunday afternoon with America’s top rated
player, 9-goaler Julio Arellano, scoring eight goals in the contest.

Villa Del Lago received one goal by handicap from the 20-goal Coca-Cola team and added to it on a
penalty goal from Magoo Laprida, who supplied all of the offense in the first chukker for a 2-1 lead.

A goal from the field from Laprida had Villa Del Lago up 3-0, when the momentum shifted.

Consecutive goals Arellano (one on a penalty shot and one from the field) were followed up by a tying
goal from Sugar Erskine as Coca-Cola took control of the game. Arellano added his third goal of the
chukker to put Coca-Cola on top of a 4-3 score after two periods of play.

Coca-Cola showed little sympathy for the Villa Del Lago foursome as they returned to the field in the
third period with a vengeance. Arellano scored three more goals and Erskine added another as Coca-
Cola left the field with a commanding 8-3 halftime advantage.

A regrouped Villa Del Lago team returned to the field in the fourth and put two unanswered goals on
the scoreboard while shutting out the high-scoring Coca-Cola attack and cutting the lead to three goals,
8-5.

As quickly as the Villa Del Lago appeared, it faded as Coca-Cola resumed control of the game in
the fifth. Two more goals from Arellano (one from the field and one penalty conversion) and shutout
defense shut the door on Villa Del Lago, giving Coca Cola an 11-5 lead.

Laprida converted a penalty shot for Villa Del Lago in the sixth and teammate Pelon Escapite added a
goal from the field as Coca-Cola coasted to capture the Herbie Pennell Cup in an 11-7 win.

Julio Arellano led all scoring with eight goals on the day. Erskine added two goals and team captain
Gillian Johnston accounted for one goal in the victory.

Laprida accounted for four goals for Villa Del Lago. Escapite and Obregon added single goals and the
team received one goal by handicap.

Coca-Cola’s Mason Wroe was named MVP for his defensive efforts at the Number 4 position while
Julio Arellano’s 6-year-old Gray mare, Dreamer, received Best Playing Pony honors.