Lucchese Boot Co.

Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres scored the opening goal of the game for Zacara, but Lucchese came storming back. A goal from the field from Andres Weisz and two more goals from Sebastian Merlos had Lucchese in front after the first chukker, 3-1.

Pieres scored early in the second period to cut the Lucchese lead to a single goal, 3-2, but despite an oppressive defense, Lucchese wasn’t through. With over four minutes gone in the chukker, Merlos scored his third goal of the day. After two periods of play Lucchese continued to hold the advantage, 4-2.

Lucchese showed no signs of letting up on the dangerous Zacara lineup, adding two more goals on penalty shots from Jason Crowder to move on top, 6-2. Zacara finally broke free of their Lucchese defenders with Ulloa scoring a goal from the field and Pieres adding a penalty goal and a goal from the field. At the end of the first half the Lucchese lead had been trimmed to a single goal, 6-5.

Zacara pitched shutout defense in the fourth chukker, but were limited to a single goal on a penalty conversion Pieres. The score was all even at 6-6.

Crowder scored a goal from the field in the opening minutes of the fifth period to squeak ahead, 7-6, as both teams fought for control of the ball. A violent collision in the mouth of the Lucchese goal resulted in a Penalty 1, and automatic goal awarded to Zacara, 7-7. Hilario Ulloa scored the go-ahead goal for Zacara in the final 40 seconds of the chukker for an 8-7 edge.

The final chukker had Pieres scoring his sixth goal of the game on a shot from the field for a two goal, 9-7 lead. Crowder responded with a penalty conversion for a goal a minute later to bring Lucchese to within a goal of Zacara, but it was not to be. Time ran out with Lucchese frantically attempting to mount a final assault, and Zacara took the game, 9-8.