ELG wins Wanderers Classic, 14-13

By Alex Webbe

 

ELG scored three first chukker goals and galloped out to a 9-7 halftime lead before running away with a 14-13 win in the finals of the 2014 Wanderers Classic Tuesday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

 

American 9-goaler Julio Arellano scored the first goal of the game, but consecutive penalty goals from ELG’s Kris Kampsen were followed up by a goal from the field from teammate Guille Aguero. After the opening chukker ELG led, 3-1.

 

Six more goals were put on the scoreboard in the second chukker. Lorenzo Merlotti opened the period with a goal from the field. Four Seasons retaliated with a score from Julio Arellano, 4-2. Kampsen scored two more goals over the balance of the chukker, but goals from Weston Gracida and Julio Arellano kept them in striking distance, trailing ELG by two goals, 6-4.

 

For the second consecutive chukker the two teams split six goals. Matt Coppola opened the third chukker with a goal from the field that was answered by a goal from Merlotti, 7-5. Coppola scored again, cutting the lead to a single goal, 7-6, and a goal from the field from Julio Arellano had it all even at 7-7. Kampsen scored twice from the field to end the chukker with ELG on top of a 9-7 halftime score.

 

Coppola scored the first goal of the second half to get within a goal of the leaders, 9-8. Aguero responded with a goal for ELG, 10-8. Julio Arellano scored from the field. Julio Arellano and Avery Chapman each scored as the fourth chukker drew to a close, 11-9. ELG continued to lead Four Seasons,

 

Trevor Niznik (substituting for an injured teammate) scored the first goal of the fifth from the field with ELG leading, 12-9. Julio Arellano, Coppola and Kampsen scored and the chukker ended with ELG stretching their lead to three goals, 14-11.

 

Final chukker play has For Seasons, scoring both the goals while ELG coasted to th finish line.