Scott Sims netted four goals and Doug Blumenthal added three as the Kaua‘i Real Estate Weekly team edged out Aloha Sterling Properties, 7-6 in a tight game, Sunday. According to John Love, Aloha Sterling stayed close throughout the game, as
Scott Sims netted four goals and Doug Blumenthal added three as the Kaua‘i Real Estate Weekly team edged out Aloha Sterling Properties, 7-6 in a tight game, Sunday.
According to John Love, Aloha Sterling stayed close throughout the game, as both teams could not increase their leads to beyond a digit.
Nick Galindo sparked the Aloha Sterling effort with four goals and Krista Bonaguidi finished with a pair of goals in the effort.
With just two games remaining on the Kaua‘i Polo Club schedule, Love said, “There is always a touch of nostalgia near the end of the season. What made this game extra special is that it was Ron Bonaguidi’s last match as president of the Kaua‘i Polo Foundation.”
Love said Bonaguidi has managed the club and been its major financial benefactor for the past eight seasons, and on Sunday, was instrumental in setting up scoring opportunities for his team mates.
The see-saw began moving from the opening chukker as Blumenthal’s game-opening score for Kaua‘i was promptly answered by Galindo.
His game-tying shot was matched by another which put Aloha Sterling up by one, 2-1.
But Blumenthal and Sims teamed to move the ball, Sims sealing the deal with his first goal of the game to stalemate the contest.
Blumenthal capped the chukker with a coast-to-coast drive on two long drives for the 3-2 go-ahead at the horn.
Krista Bonaguidi opened the books in the second chukker, capitalizing on a penalty three against Kaua‘i.
Her free shot from 40 yards against an undefended goal tied the contest, 3-3.
Galindo broke the stalemate following a defensive skirmish to give Aloha Sterling the lead only to have the Ron Bonagui-di-and-Sims Show take over to knot things up, again.
As the minutes ticked toward the half, Aloha Sterling tried to break the deadlock, but came up short for the 4-4 halftime score.
Love said following the halftime divot stomp, Galindo broke open for the Aloha Sterling lead that eluded them just before the halftime horn.
But the Ron Bonaguidi-and-Sims Show took control only to have Ron Bonaguidi’s shot attempt bouncing off the pylon. The ball bounced close to Sims and he capitalized on the opportunity to tie the game, 5-5. Sims went on to score late in the chukker, emerging from a scramble near the goal mouth with the go-ahead goal for Kaua‘i.
Defense ruled the final chukker, and Krista Bonaguidi broke the ice midway through the period by nailing a 30-yard penalty shot against an undefended goal. This tied the contest, 6-6 with more defensive jockeying following.
Late in the contest, Blumenthal prevented the overtime on a break-away play to score the final Kaua‘i goal just before the horn sounded.
Kaua‘i Polo Club hosts the polo games at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the ‘Anini fields. Gates open at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the KPC Web site at www.kauaipolo.org.
