Urban Dogs roll over Shoot 4 the Moon By DIANE HENSLEY - INDIO –-Julie Roenisch’s early break for the uprights set up a five-goal advantage for the Urban Dogs in the first five minutes of Sunday’s Debii Dollar Conant Memorial Tournament final, part of an offensive scoring drive that left Shoot 4 the Moon all but playing dead.
Roenisch reached for the release, swooped on the ball, then skirted the pack unchallenged for the offside shot 20 seconds into the first chukker at Eldorado Polo Club. No. 3 Caroline Anier, hazed by Shoot 4 the Moon’s Jessica Bailey, capitalized on a line foul with a penalty four conversion. Reacting quickly to a dead ball left by Shoot 4 the Moon’s Kim Kelly, Anier turned and broke away for a short tap-in on the turnover. No. 4 Susan Stovall hit her mark after outrunning a pursuing Katie Moon. Then, Anier beelined for goal on a midfield pass from her patron Kim Garsed, averting opponent Cybele Jordan’s hook and riding through Bailey’s bump with 2:20 remaining.
Attempts to score at least one goal before the horn sounded ran afoul for Shoot 4 the Moon when Bailey’s 40-yard shot went wide of the posts despite a well placed pass from Kelly.
Running a more focused defense against Anier, rated at two goals, Jordan and Kelly slowed the pace in the second chukker. The pair allowed the Urban Dogs just a single goal however few scoring opportunities materialized for forwards Moon and Bailey.
That momentum wound down to a screeching stop midway through the third. Controlling the ball in home territory, Anier and her mount tumbled to the ground and slid across the grass after colliding with an opponent’s horse. Perhaps more angered that hurt, Anier rose slowly to her feet, checked her shoulder and kicked her helmet over the yellowed turf as she walked toward a waiting golf cart. She retired from the match.
As no suitable replacement for Anier was available, the teams elected to play the match out three on three. The Urban Dogs were awarded a handicap goal and Shoot 4 the Moon withdrew their No. 3, Jordan.
In the fourth, Moon, playing forward, picked up a pass from Bailey and ran it through the posts with 3:05 remaining and Kelly scored on a breakaway for a final score of 7-3.
Yuma defeats Paris Express
INDIO – Paris Express teammates Tanya Paneno, Jocelyn Parker and Vicky Owens scored one goal apiece to win the Debii Dollar Conant Memorial Tournament consolation Sunday at Eldorado Polo Club.
Two-goaler Caroline Anier was the lone scorer for Yuma, tallying a goal in the first and another in the second. The last two chukkers were scoreless.
Diane Hensley may be reached at dkheditor@msn.com.
DEBII DOLLAR CONANT MEMORIAL
Urban Dogs 7, Shoot 4 the Moon 3
GOALS:
URBAN DOGS: Caroline Anier 4, Julie Roenisch 1, Susan Stovall 1, Kim Garsed 0, 1 on handicap adjustment.
SHOOT 4 THE MOON: Jessica Bailey 1, Katie Moon 1, Kim Kelly 1, Cybele Jordan 0.
DEBII DOLLAR CONANT MEMORIAL Flight B Finals
Paris Express 3, Yuma 2
GOALS:
YUMA: Caroline Anier 2, Lynn Hutton 0, Laura Handley 0, Kit Neacy 0.
PARIS EXPRESS: Tanya Paneno 1, Jocelyn Parker 1, Vicky Owens 1, Terese Volmer 0.
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