LivingPolo.com

Goose Creek/Tankawa beats Jan Pamela 13-7 in the 12-goal pro-am Sawgrass Challenge at the International Polo Club in Wellington Thursday afternoon.

A brutal first chukker saw Goose Creek/Tankawa hammer the Jan Pamela defense for five goals after falling behind 1-0 on a goal from the field from Todd Offen. Alejandro Vial answered with a goal from the field and teammate Cote Zegers gave Goose Creek/Tankawa a 2-1 lead on a 40-yard penalty conversion. A goal from Maureen Brennan and a pair of goals from Jeff Hildebrand closed out the period with Goose Creek/Tankawa holding an impressive 5-1 advantage.

With the Jan Pamela defense tightened in the second, Paul Knapp gave them their second goal of the game while Hildebrand’s third ended the chukker. Two chukkers into the match, Jan Pamela found themselves trailing by four goals, 6-2.

Jan Pamela got its most productive play in the third chukker. Goals from Wayne Garrison, Knapp and Offen got them back into the game. A single goal from Vial kept Goose Creek/Tankawa in front, 7-5, at the end of the first half.

Knapp converted a penalty shot for a goal in the fourth and Steve Dalton scored his first goal of the afternoon as Jan Pamela tied it up at 7-7. Brennan and Vial each scored a goal to end the period with Goose Creek/Tankawa continuing to lead by a pair of goals, 9-7.

Two fifth chukker goals from Zegers and a goal from the field from Vial were combined with shutout defense as Goose Creek/Tankawa extended its lead to five goals, 12-7. Jan Pamela struggled with its offense through much of the game and would have to come up with five goals just to tie the contest.

Vial scored the only goal of the final chukker as Goose Creek/Tankawa went on to capture the Sawgrass Challenge opening game, 13-7.

Vial led all scoring with five goals. Zegers and Hildebrand added three goals apiece and Brennan scored twice.

Knapp set the pace for the Jan Pamela attack with three goals. Offen scored twice and Garrison and Dalton scored single goals in the loss.