INDIO –  Four-goaler Jason Crowder fired the game-winning shot for McPolo in the eight-goal final Sunday with a pop shot through the uprights that ended Corleone’s bid for the league title in a clutch play for the 8-7 win in overtime.

Crowder executed on a full-field offensive push that began with the first throw-in 20 yards from the Corleone goal. Corleone’s No. 3 Dan Juarez leaned in and connected for the tap back as teammate Pedro Orellana approached the goal. But McPolo’s quarterback Joseph Stuart swept in for the steal on a cross-field clearing shot in front of the posts.

Crowder picked up the offside and made the carry to within 75 yards before losing possession under hazing by Corleone’s Dan Juarez. No. 4 Alvaro Tadeo, following behind, picked up the ball and sent it downfield as Crowder threaded his way around the pack.

He positioned, looked to his left, saw the pass coming and connected with a short offside as Corleone’s defense rode past, unable to react.

McPolo’s Crowder and Stuart paired to overturn a two-goal deficit going into the sixth. Stuart knocked in a penalty two with 5:15 left to play as Corleone stepped up its aggression. Crowder scored the tying goal with 1:24 left on the clock, capitalizing on a right-of-way foul apparently attributed to Keys. McPolo nearly sealed the match when Crowder sent a long bomb out of the lineup to No. 1 Geri Dardi, but her shot on goal missed the target. 

Corleone led McPolo with a two-goal advantage in the first and fifth chukkers and also held them scoreless in the first, third and fifth chukkers. Stuart tied the score at five apiece in the fourth on a rush shot from 45 yards, meeting Key’s bouncing back shot with a low-flying bullet with 19 seconds remaining.

Corleone missed two shots on goal in the sixth.

MCPOLO 8, CORLEONE 7

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