Tue 3rd Jan 2017American Season BeginsVilla Del Lago Win Herbie Pennell Cup
Six time’s a charm for Villa Del Lago (Jim Zenni, Carlucho Arellano, Hilario Ulloa and Agustin Obregon) as they captured their first 20 goal Herbie Pennell Cup in six final appearances in a 12-9 win over Postage Stamp Farm (Annabelle Gundlach, Brandon Phillips, Mariano Aguerre and Kris Kampsen) Sunday afternoon at the International Polo Club. For the previous five years, Villa Del Lago fought their way into the club’s opening tournament final only to go away with a loss, but not this year. In a sluggish opening chukker the two teams plodded through a defensively-oriented period, following a goal from Villa Del Lago 10 goaler Hilario Ulloa. Agustin Obregon made it 2-0 with the only other goal in the chukker as Villa Del Lago took the early lead. Ulloa led all scoring with eight goals, three on penalty shots, and was named Most Valuable Player. Arellano and Obregon scored two goals apiece for the win. Philips led the Postage Stamp Farm attack with four goals, two on penalty conversions. Kampsen scored two of his three goals from the penalty line and Aguerre added two goals in a losing effort. Aguerre’s 10-year-old mare, Machitas Manitoba earned the Best Playing Pony Award. Villa Del Lago and Postage Stamp Farm will have a short week as they are scheduled to play in the opening games of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup on Wednesday 4 January. Villa Del Lago will face La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Jeff Hall, Mike Azzaro and Ruki Baillieu) in their opening game and Postage Stamp Farm taking the field against Coca-Cola (Gillian Johnston, Julian de Lusarreta, Julio Arellano and Del Walton) later that afternoon. Photograph: Villa Del Lago with the Herbie Pennell Cup. By Alex Pacheco |