LA SALLE PROPERTIES - Robert Gray, Luis Saracco, Maco Llambias, Micaela Saracco
The final game of the 2021 USPA Spreckels Cup 6 Goal, played at the Eldorado Polo Club, ended with a shot that, if you hadn’t seen it, you might not believe it. The mentioned shot came off the mallet of Marcos Llambias and rolled over the goal line in the dying moments and gave Bob Gray’s Lasalle Properties the title.
In a previous tournament matchup, Lasalle (Bob Gray -.5, Luis Saracco 3, Marcos Llambias 4, Micaela Saracco) had defeated Peter Milner and Greg Hanson’s Dungar/Element 101 (Peter Milner, Greg Hanson -1, Jared Sheldon 4, Rodrigo Salinas 3) by a final count of 8 -7.
That result indicated that the final wouldn’t be much, if any, different and just like the first, this one was close.
With a handicap award of one-half Dungar/Element 101 started quickly as Sheldon capped off an initial drive with a penalty number four conversion. Lasalle replied just as fast as Saracco counted one from the field to come back to within ½ at 1 ½ – 1. Sheldon then scored from the field to grab another goal and one-half advantage. Not to be outdone, Saracco scored his second to once again trail by only a half goal at 2 ½ – 2. Sheldon converted his second penalty four effort to strengthen the Dungar/Element 101 element lead at 3 ½ – 2 after the first.
The back and forth scoring continued in the second period as Llambias scored on a penalty number four of his own to bring Lasalle to once again within one half goal at 3 ½ – 3. The trend of one for you and one for me extended as Dungar/Element 101 was awarded a goal via a penalty number one call and the count was now 4 ½ – 3. With the Milner/Hanson combination unable to capitalize on the ensuing free shot from center, Saracco scored his third of the game for Lasalle and the score was 4 ½ – 4 to still favor Dungar/Element 101.
The third chukker saw just one goal scored, but it was for Lasalle as Llambias struck from the field to give his team the lead for the first time at 5 – 4 ½.
The second half trend of little scoring continued in the final frame until, with just two minutes left, the always aggressive Sheldon sent an outstanding 90 degree neck shot from 120 yards through the goal and Dungar/Element 101 once again had the lead at 5 ½ – 5. With time most certainly a factor, Lasalle won the throw-in at center and had good chance to score but were stopped and the clock was now showing less than 10 seconds left and it certainly looked like Dungar/Element 101 were the winners. With almost all players seemingly thinking the game was over, Llambias ran to the ball and launched a perfect 130 yard strike that went between the posts with 2 seconds to go. That highly improbable play gave Lasalle Properties the 2021 6 Goal Spreckels Championship.
Llambias, because of his steady play and never quit attitude was awarded the title of MVP. Tangerine, owned by Danny Juarez and Rodrigo Salinas and played by Salinas was picked as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg