INDIO – Les Angels Guardiennes, quarterbacked by Caroline Anier, defeated Cotterell Farms 7-4 Easter Sunday, taking advantage of a weakly executed offense and capitalizing on turnovers. Cotterell Farms managed just two field goals in the featured four-goal Women’s Challenge final at Eldorado Polo Club, played before a full-house benefit for the Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped.
Anier set up a two-goal advantage for Les Angels in the first chukker. Teammate Shelley Geiler rode in for the turnover on Cotterell Farms’ knock-in, passing to Anier for a short offside tap-in with 3:38 remaining. Anier reprised that effort with a clutch play on a throw-in 80 yards from goal. Les Angels Susan Guggenheim won the throw-in, popping the ball into friendly territory and Anier, positioning for the pass. She sped to goal, trailed by pursuing Cotterell Farms’ Abby Riggs, and shot in a low-flying bullet between the posts. Cotterell Farms’ lone shot on goal by No. 4 Vicky Owens on an assist by teammate Cybelle Jordan, went wide in the last 30 seconds. A late handicap goal awarded to Cotterell Farms cut Les Angels lead to one at the end of the first.
Les Angels’ Jessica Bailey broke the frustration of the push-and-pull yardage gains and losses in the second chukker as both teams struggled for the offensive edge, battling for possession amid a string of incomplete passes and missed shots. Anier set the ball in motion, dropping on the line lost by Cotterell Farms’ Jenny Lutrell. She passed the ball to Bailey in the wings at midfield. But Jordan got there first and backed the ball intended for Riggs. Geiler stepped in for the steal and sent the ball back to Bailey. Bailey swung through Jordan’s hook, sent the ball toward Anier, and pressed to goal just in time to receive Anier’s pass and score on an angled shot through the posts. Cotterell Farms mounted a slow advance to goal late in the second, but despite Bailey’s goal-saving shot picking off a ball 10 yards from the uprights, Cotterell Farms’ Owens bounced it back to goal with a 25-yard offside slam.
In the third, Les Angels defense allowed no shots on goal for Cotterell Farms, and Geiler upped the ante, scoring on a 40-yard shot with 1:19 left to play.
Cotterell Farms’ Riggs converted a penalty three in the first 30 seconds of the fourth after a foul in the lineup sent Anier to the ground. Unscathed, Les Angels quickly recovered after Anier’s breakaway from the lineup and successful pass to Geiler for the goal with 5:29 left on the clock. Riggs brought Cotterell Farms to within one outriding Anier for a clean shot on goal with 4:10 left to play at 5-4, but Anier bounced back with a pair of goals late in the chukker, eluding Cotterell Farms’ Lutrell, and then outriding Jordan for the offside slam.
Both teams let the clock run out with 19 seconds remaining.
LES ANGELS GUARDIENNES 7, COTTERELL FARMS 4
Goals:
Les Angels Guardiennes: Caroline Anier 4, Jessica Bailey 1, Shelley Geiler 2, Susan Guggenheim.
Cotterell Farms: Abby Riggs 2, Vicky Owens 1, Jenny Lutrell, Cybelle Jordan, one by handicap.
Bracket 1
Les Anges Gardiens - Susan Guggenheim, Caroline Anier, Shelly Geiler, Jessica Bailey
Hanalei Bay - Krista Bonoguida, Dayelle Fargey, Kate Weber, Susan Stovall
Cotterel Farms - Jenny Luttrell, Abby Riggs, Vicky Owens, Cybele Jordan
Bracket 2
PoloBarn.com - Tania Paneno, Terese Volmer, Vicky Owens, Sherry Sheldon
Le Crique Aux Cerfs - Kit Neacy, Lynni Hutton, Caroline Anier, Freddie Harris
Oh Canada - Dayelle Fargey, Donna Rooney, Anne Evamy, Alyson Hannas
Bracket 3
Poway - Sherry Sheldon, Erin Leja, Gratia Brown, Virginia Jones
Portland - Kate Sullivan, Gina Padilla, Carol Hemker, Sue Landis/Julie Carter
HJ Construction - Megan Judge, Laura Willson, Kate Cappe, Danielle Travis
Zero Gravity - Mia Digiovanni, Katy Hayden, Stacy Sickler, Debbie Shea/Diane Hensley
OC POLO- Lani White, Veronika Westin, Robin Paicius, Chandrelle Humphries
