Gypsy/Tritech scores wins over Trinity
and Empire 10

By Alex Webbe

A well-oiled Gypsy/Tritech team (Tony Uretz, Chris Mahoney, Gaston Von Wernich,
Graham Bray and Suzanne Figi) scored consecutive wins over Trinity (Rick Paicius,
Robin Paicius, Mariano Gutierrez ad Agustin Zavaleta) and Empire 10 (Craig Steinke,
Mariano Fassetta, Ashton Wolf ad Eric Hammon) this past weekend at the Twin Palms
Polo Club at La Quinta as part of the Empire Polo Club’s 10-goal January League in
Indio.

Friday’s game got off to a slow start as both teams struggled to organize any effective
attack. Agustin Zavaleta scored the only goal of the chukker for a 1-0 Trinity lead.

Second chukker play was no more productive as defenses ruled the play. Graham Bray
finally managed a goal from the field and Gypsy/Tritech tied it up at 1-1.

Two more goals from Zavaleta in the third were countered by a penalty conversion from
Gaston Von Wernich with Trinity sitting on a 32 halftime lead.

Gypsy/Tritech returned to the field with renewed enthusiasm in the fourth chukker.
Goals from Tony Uretz and Bray were complimented by a pair of goals (one from the
field and one on a penalty conversion). The Trinity offense was shut out and Gypsy/
Tritech took a 6-3 lead.

Goals from Bray and Von Wernich opened the fifth period, giving Gypsy/Tritech a five
goal, 8-3 advantage, but Trinity wasn’t willing to roll over. Gutierrez and Zavaleta
scored single goals in an effort to keep Trinity in the game. Gypsy/Tritech maintained
the three goal lead, 8-5.

Uretz added his second goal of the match in the sixth while Trinity answered with a pair
of goals from Zavaleta, and the final horn sounded with Gypsy/Tritech winning, 9-7.

Zavaleta led all scoring with six goals. Teammate Gutierrez scored once in the loss.

Von Wernich accounted for four goals for Gypsy/Tritech. Bray added three and Uretz
scored twice for the win.

GYPSY/TRITECH 12, EMPIRE 8

Playing much more effectively than they did in Friday’s win, Gypsy/Tritech jumped out to
a 7-4 halftime lead before cruising to a 12-8 win over Empire.

The teams stayed even in the first chukker with Gaston Von Wernich scoring twice
for Gypsy/Tritech. Empire answered back with goals from Craig Steinke and Mariano
Fassetta.

Two more goals from Von Wernich put Gypsy/Tritech on top, 4-3, as Empire was held to
a single Fassetta goal.

Two more goals from Von Wernich in the third and a single goal from Chris Maloney in
the third left Empire in the dust. Once again it was Fassetta registering a single goal for
Empire. The first half ended with Gypsy/Tritech carrying a 7-4 lead.

Von Wernich scored his seventh goal of the match in the fourth period, but Empire
responded with goals from Ashton Wolf and Fassetta. The chukker ended with Gypsy/
Tritech ahead by two goals, 8-6.

Empire fought to get back into the game in the fifth, but managed only a single goal
from Fassetta as both teams cranked up their defenses. Bray scored his first goal of
the game and the period ended with Gypsy/Tritech holding on to a two goal, 9-7 lead.

Two more goals from Von Wernich and a goal from the field from Suzanne Figi spelled
the end for Empire, salvaging only a single goal from Fassetta in the 12-8 loss.

Von Wernich scored nine goals in the victory. Figi, Bray and Maloney added single
goals.

Fassetta led the Empire attack with six goals. Wolf and Steinke each scored one goal.