Lucchese outlasts Piaget 11-9

By Alex Webbe

Lucchese scored their second consecutive win in the 2012 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at
the International Polo Club in Wellington Saturday afternoon as they rolled over Piaget
11-9. Pelon Stirling set the pace in the early going, scoring six of his seven goals in the
first half.

Lucchese received one goal by handicap and wasted little time in building a 4-0 lead in
the first chukker. Stirling scored the first goal of the game from the field and teammate
Andres Weisz added another for a 3-0 lead. Stirling added another goal as Lucchese
went up 4-0 before Piaget responded. Miguel Astrada answered for Piaget with a
40-yard penalty conversion and a goal from the field. The first chukker ended with
Lucchese boasting a 4-2 advantage.

Stirling and Astrada exchanged goals for the only scoring in the second period and
Lucchese held on to a two goal, 5-3 score.

Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi cut the Lucchese lead to a single goal, 5-4, to open
the third chukker, but Stirling proved up to the challenge. The Argentine 9-goaler
peeled off three consecutive goals (two from the field one on a penalty conversion)
followed by a period ending goal from teammate Santiago Torres. After three chukkers
of play, Lucchese held a five goal, 9-4 lead.

Piaget continued to press the attack at the second half began. Lucchese fouls put
Astrada at the penalty line where he converted two penalty shots for goals. With time
running out, however, Stirling connected on a steeply angled neckshot to end the
chukker. Lucchese continued to lead Piaget by a 10-6 score.

Piaget ratcheted up its defense in the fifth chukker, shutting out the dangerous
Lucchese attack, but was unable to put any points on the scoreboard. After five
periods, the score had Lucchese in front, 10-6.

After just one minute of play in the final chukker of the game, a Lucchese foul put
Astrada back at the penalty line where he converted a penalty shot for a goal. Less
than a minute later, Astrada scored on a second consecutive penalty shot and the
Lucchese lead was cut down to two goals, 10-8. Astrada’s third goal of the period had
Piaget within a goal of Lucchese, 10-9, but that was where the rally ended. With time
running out, Santiago Torres scored the final goal of the game in the 111-9 win.

Piaget’s Astrada led all scoring with eight goals. Ganzi accounted for the only other
Piaget goal.

Stirling led Lucchese in scoring with seven goals. Torres scored twice and Weisz
added a single goal.