INDIO – Matt Gonzalez scored four goals and Topo Mendez added two of his three goals in the third chukker Sunday as Friendly Chevrolet beat Gypsy 10-6 at Eldorado Polo Club. Chevrolet’s forward Curt Hughes put two on the boards in the second half in beelines out of the lineup and Mariano Gutierrez contributed the go-ahead goal on a turnover early in the second.
Every member pulled their weight for Friendly Chevrolet in the 12-goal league match; a team showing that kept Gypsy scoreless in the first, second and sixth. But Gypsy--led by the formidable inside match-up of Graham Bray, five goals and four-goaler Diego Cossio—came to a screeching halt when it came to offensive execution.
Gypsy couldn’t crank up the gain on a one-goal advantage by handicap and trailed for five chukkers after a slow 1-1 start in the first. Bray scored Gypsy’s sole goal from the field. Midway through the fifth, and up 7-5, Chevrolet’s Gonzalez knocked in after Cossio’s failed penalty four conversion. Bray, 40 yards out, intercepted the pass intended for Gutierrez, dropped on the line and sent a short offside through the posts.
Cossio, Gypsy’s No. 3, scored 4 of 5 penalty conversion attempts in the match. Gypsy missed 10 shots on goal, lacking the solid passing that translates into goal-making demonstrated in their 14-13 loss against another motor-themed team Ford Trucks (Stone Canyon) Sun. Jan. 8. Ashton Wolf, Cossio and Bray managed three goals in a chukker while shutting down Augustin Zavaleta and Joseph Stuart and Fergus Gould.
Friendly Chevrolet’s Gonzalez and Hughes lifted Chevrolet to a three-point lead at 9-6 in the fifth. Gonzalez shot a penalty five conversion 80 yards from goal that found its way between the uprights with 2:39 remaining. Gutierrez got possession out of the line-up and passed it to Hughes. He hustled 70 yards downfield and timed the drop as teammate Suzanne Figi covered his back. He eased into the shot, dropped the hammer and pelted it 40 yards to goal.
Friendly Chevrolet missed four shots on goal.
FRIENDLY CHEVROLET 10, GYPSY 6
Goals:
FRIENDLY CHEVROLET: Curt Hughes (2), Mariano Gutierrez (1), Topo Mendez (3), Matt Gonzalez (4).
GYPSY: Suzanne Figi, Diego Cossio (4), Graham Bray (1) Ashton Wolf, by handicap (1).
