Hampton Cup play

Equuleus scored last chukker win over Heathcote in Bridgehampton

Story By Alex Webbe Photography  by Alex Pacheco

 

Equuleus spotted Heathcote three goals by handicap and tied it up at 5-5 at the end of the first half, but needed three goals in the final chukker to take the 11-9 win Tuesday afternoon in Hampton Cup play at the Bridgehampton Polo Club on Long Island.

Kris Kampsen opened the scoring with a goal from the field for Equuleus. Teammate Mariano Gonzalez added another while shutting down the Heathcote offense. The first chukker ended with Heathcote holding on to a 3-2 lead, but showing no offensive punch.

Goals from Tommy Biddle and Naco Taverna extended the Heathcote lead to 5-2 in the second chukker, with Kampsen managing to sneak a single goal through the goal posts to keep the Equuleus attack from stalling. The period ended with Heathcote leading by two goals, 5-3.

Heathcote found itself on the defensive in the third, committing a couple of costly fouls. Gonzalez converted both opportunities while helping his teammates cut the legs out from under the Heathcote offense. The score stood all even at 5-5 at halftime.

“We had some opportunities, but we just didn’t take advantage of them,” offered Biddle. “It was a very competitive match,” he added.

Biddle put Heathcote ahead, 6-5, with a penalty conversion to open the second half of play. Kampsen tied it up again, 6-6, with his third goal from the field. Heathcote team captain Steve Lefkowitz ended the scoring in the period with his first goal of the game, leaving Equuleus trailing 7-6 with one chukker left to play.

The Equuleus defense earned it pay as Heathcote was blanked for the third time in the match. Kampsen converted a penalty shot for a goal and Mariano Obregon scored from the field as Equuleus took its first lead of the game, 8-7.

Biddle tied it up in the sixth on a 40-yard penalty shot but Gonzalez answered back with a pair of goals (one by penalty, one from the field) for Equuleus for a 10-8, two goal lead. Lefkowitz tallied his second score of the game to bring Heathcote to within a goal, 10-9, before Kampsen’s fifth goal of the afternoon closed the door on the Heathcote rally in the 11-9 Equuleus victory.

“The field cut up a bit,” said Biddle, “making it a bit difficult. But it was the same for both teams. I was happy with the way the team played,” he added, “but not happy about the loss.”

Gonzalez and Kampsen scored five goals apiece in the win. Obregon added a goal.

Biddle scored three times for Heathcote. Lefkowitz added two goals and Taverna scored once in a losing effort.

The win gives Equuleus a 2-0 record while Heathcote slips to 1-1.

Hampton Cup play continues on Wednesday with Certified (0-1) slated to play KIG (0-1) at 3pm followed by a 5pm match featuring Circa (0-1) and White Birch (1-0).

 

Photography  by Alex Pacheco

Photography  by Alex Pacheco

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