Ellerstina and La Aguada remain undefeated

By Alex Webbe

Monday afternoon wins by La Aguada (2-0) and Ellerstina (2-0) will set up a showdown on Sunday when the two undefeated teams face-off to determine who will face La Dolfina in the finals of the 2011 Hurlingham Open.

Chapa II charged into action, getting goals from Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Eduardo Heguy (penalty conversion) before Ellerstina responded with a goal from Facundo Pieres.  Another penalty goal from Eduardo Heguy was followed by Facundo Pieres’ second goal of the chukker.  Chapa II took an early 3-2 lead.

The Ellerstina defense shut down the Chapa II attack in the second frame, picking up goals from Gonzalito Pieres and Nachi Heguy.  After two chukkers of play, Ellerstina took a 4-3 lead.

Two more Ellerstina goals went unanswered with Nachi Heguy scoring his second goal on the day and Nicolas Pieres adding a goal to the Ellerstina total.  Three chukkers into the game and Ellerstina had Chapa II trailing 6-3.

Eduardo Heguy and Pepe Heguy scored to open the fourth chukker, but Ellerstina retaliated with a goal from the field from Gonzalito Pieres and a penalty conversion from Facundo Pieres.  Ellerstina continued to lead at the end of the first half, 8-5.

The pace continued into the second half, but well-executed defensive work by both sides held the scoring in check.  Alberto Heguy scored first, but Gonzalito Pieres closed out the period with Ellerstina holding on to a three goal advantage, 9-6.

Alberto Heguy added two more goals from the field for Chapa II, but a pair of penalty conversions from Facundo Pieres kept Ellerstina there goals ahead, 11-8, with just two chukkers left to play.

Ellerstina was attempting to close out the game in the seventh, but Chapa II had other ideas.   Defensive fouls by the Ellerstina team put Chapa II’s Eduardo Heguy at the penalty line, and with three penalty conversions and no offense to show for from Ellerstina, the game was all even at 11-11 at the end of the seventh chukker.

Chapa II made the miscues in the eighth chukker as Facundo Pieres made good on a pair of penalty shots for a 13-11 edge.  Eduardo Heguy cut the lead to a single goal with his seventh penalty conversion of the game, but Gonzalito Pieres scored for the fourth time to secure the 14-12 win.

Facundo Pieres scored six of his seven goals on penalty shots.  Gonzalito added four goals; Nachi Heguy scored twice; and Nicolas Pieres added one.

 Eduardo Heguy scored all seven of his goals on penalty shots.  Alberto Heguy added four goals and Alejandro Astrada scored one goal in the loss.

Chapa II was forced to play with south African 7-goaler Nachi De Plessis instead of American 9-goaler Julio Arellano due to a delayed connecting flight to Buenos Aires.

LA AGUADA 12, ALEGRIA 10

Francisco De Narvaez scored the first goal of the game for Alegria, but that was when La Aguada took control of the game.  Ignacio Astrada scored once form the field and converted a penalty goal before Eduardo Astrada closed out the opening chukker with a goal for the early 3-1 lead.

Pancho Bensadon and Fred Mannix, Jr. picked up goals for Alegria in the second, but Miguel Astrada’s first goal of the contest kept La Aguada on top of a 4-3 score.

Bensadon’s penalty conversion in the third was followed by a scoring drive by Ignacio Astrada, and the period ended with La Aguada holding on to a narrow 5-4 advantage.

La Aguada scored two unanswered goals in the fourth with Javier Astrada and Ignacio Astrada each converting penalty shots for goals.  At the end of the first half, La Aguada led by three goals, 7-4.

De Narvae3z opened the fifth with a penalty conversion for a goal for Alegria, but ensuing goals from Miguel Astrada and Javier Astrada ended the chukker with La Aguada stretching its lead to four goals, 9-5.

Both defenses tightened in the sixth, with La Aguada taking advantage of fouls committed by Alegria.  Ignacio Astrada converted both penalty shots and La Aguada left the field with a six goal, 11-5 lead.

De Narvaez scored Alegria’s first goal from the field in five chukkers in the seventh, but Ignacio responded with another penalty goal and La Aguada led 12-6 with seven minutes left to play.

La Aguada eased up on their horses in the final minutes of the game as Mannix scored three times and Mariano Aguerre tallied his first and only goal of the game.  La Aguada remained undefeated with a 2-0 record.

Ignacio led all scoring with seven goals (five on penalty shots). Brothers Miguel and Javier Astrada added two goals apiece and Eduardo Astrada scored once in the victory.

Fred Mannix, Jr. scored four goals for Alegria.  De Narvaez added three; Bensadon accounted for two goals and Aguerre scored once in a losing effort.

Hurlingham Open play will continue on Saturday, October 29 when Chapa Uno (1-1) meets Estancia Grande (0-2) followed by a showdown between La Dolfina (2-0) and Pilara Piaget (1-1).

On Sunday Chapa II will begin the day facing Alegria (0-2) while La Aguada (2-0) and Ellerstina (2-0) will battle to determine who will meet La Dolfina in the finals.