By Alex Webbe
La Aguada (Agustín Merlos, Guillermo Terrera, Sapo Caset and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) scored the winning goal in overtime to beat La Aguada/ Las Monjitas (Ignacio Toccalino, Pite Merlos, Eduardo N. Astrada Jr. and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) 11-10 in the opening round of the 2015 Tortugas Open at the Tortugas Country Club in Argentina.
La Aguada/ Las Monjitas scored first, putting two goals on the scoreboard in the opening chukker. La Aguada was held scoreless and fell behind, 2-0, after the first chukker of the game.
Agustin Merlos scored twice for La Aguada in the second chukker and Sapo Caset added a goal. La Aguada/ Las Monjitas managed a goal of their won, but after two periods the score was all even at 3-3.
La Aguada/ Las Monjitas came alive again in the third, scoring twice. La Aguada was unable to score and fell behind once again, 5-3.
The fourth period belonged to La Aguada. This time it was the boys in the burgundy and white jerseys that provided the offense. Two La Aguada goals went unanswered and the chukker ended in a 5-5 tie.
The La Aguada defense kept La Aguada/ Las Monjitas off the scoreboard for the second consecutive chukker while piling on three goals of their own. After four chukkers it was La Aguada in the lead, 8-5.
La Aguada scored the first two goals of the sixth chukker, stretching their lead to five goals, 10-5. Nacho Novillo Astrada cut the lead back to three goals with a pair of goals that ended the chukker with La Aguada in front by three goals, 10-7.
A determined La Aguada/ Las Monjitas foursome took the field in the seventh period, and went right to work. Shutout defense was complimented by three goals as La Aguada/ Las Monjitas tied the game at 10-10 and forced sudden-death overtime.
The overtime chukker was short-lived with Guillermo Terrera making the play that allowed Agustin Merlos the opportunity to drive the ball through the La Aguada/ Las Monjitas goalposts for the 11-10 win.
Agustin Merlos scored four of his team-high six goals on penalty shots. Sapo Caset added three goals and Guillermo Terrera scored twice in the win. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored twice from the field and added four penalty conversions for La Aguada/ Las Monjitas. Ignacio Toccalino was credited with three goals and Eduardo Novillo Astrada scored once in the loss.
Tortugas Open play will continue on Saturday, October 3rd with La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero) facing Chapaleufú (Pepe Heguy, Nachi Heguy, Bautista Heguy and Eduardo Heguy) in a 4pm match. The game will be the first for the 40-goal La Dolfina team, who skipped the Jockey Club Open. Chapaleufú will be trying to recover from their tournament opening loss to Alegria.
(Photo courtesy of the AAP and Matías Callejo).
http://www.hurlinghampolo.com/gamereport/read/1945/La-Aguada-wins-their-first-game-of-the-Tortugas-in-overtime-on-a-goal-from-Agustin-Merlos