Mt. Brilliant holds on to beat La Casa Hermosa

By Alex Webbe

Mt. Brilliant (3-1) led by as many as six goals Sunday morning in the 14-goal Wanderers
Classic at the International Polo Club, but had to survive a last chukker rally by La Casa
Hermosa (1-2) to salvage the 12-11 victory.

Brandon Phillips converted a pair of 40-yard penalty shots for Mt. Brilliant in the first
chukker followed by a single goal from La Casa Hermosa’s Chris Nevins. The period
ended with no more scoring and a 2-1 Mt. Brilliant lead.

Nevins converted a 60-yard penalty shot in the second chukker, but Phillips was on
point, and scored a goal from the field to maintain the one goal, 3-2 edge.

Two consecutive goals from Tommy Collingwood had Mt. Brilliant ahead 5-2 when
Brad Blake stepped up for La Casa Hermosa. Blake converted a 60-yard penalty shot
and added another goal from the field. Phillips closed out the chukker with a 60-yard
penalty shot and Mt. Brilliant left the field with a 6-4 halftime lead.

Whatever tactics were shared at by the team’s coach, Julian Hipwood, at halftime had
an immediate effect on the Mt. Brilliant players. Phillips and Juan Monteverde opened
the scoring with single goals, Collingwood followed with two more goals. La Casa
Hermosa was caught flat-footed, and Mt. Brilliant led, 10-4.

La Casa Hermosa wasn’t ready to roll over yet, as Pablo Spinacci scored twice and
Nevins added a single goal. Monteverde scored once for Mt. Brilliant, and La Casa
Hermosa trailed by four goals, 11-7.

Saving the best for last, La Casa Hermosa unloaded its offense on Mt. Brilliant in the
final chukker. Four consecutive goals from La Casa Hermosa tied the game at 11-
11 with time running out. Nevins scored three times and Spinacci added a goal in the
surge. Mt. Brilliant gathered its forces for a final assault resulting in another goal from
Collingwood in the 12-11 win.

Nevins led the scoring with six goals. Spinacci scored three times and Blake added a
pair of goals for La Casa Hermosa.

Phillips and Collingwood scored five goals apiece for Mt. Brilliant. Monteverde was
credited with two scores in the win.