
The much anticipated second round match in the 2021 Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy between Park Place and Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine came down to the final chukka, where Park Place raced from behind to score four goals and capture the 12-10 victory to remain undefeated.
A match-up between two of the most highly touted players in the sport in Park Place’s Facundo Pieres and Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine’s Sapo Caset met expectations, scoring eight and seven goals respectively. Holding a slight advantage from the field, Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine controlled possession and produced opportunities at goal by winning 15 of 23 throw-ins but conceded four penalty conversions over the final two chukkas, allowing Park Place to take the lead. Scoring the final four goals of the game, Park Place captured the close 12-10 victory to join Monterosso atop League Two.
A quick start for Park Place resulted in Pieres finding Will Harper with a pass on two separate occasions for field goals to give their team the early 3-1 lead. A first half of multiple momentum swings, Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine provided an immediate response with a three-goal run of their own, receiving field goals from Caset, Facundo Sola and Matt Perry. However, the fast-paced second chukka produced three more goals, all coming from Park Place as Pieres either scored or assisted on all six of his team’s goals to begin the game. Held off the scoresheet in the third chukka, Park Place’s lead evaporated after back-to-back goals from Caset left the score tied at 6-all entering halftime.
The defense from both teams tightened to begin the second half, preventing open runs to goal and making field goals harder to convert. A Penalty 4 conversion for Caset was answered by a field goal from Britos with the score falling in and out of a tie until Caset broke through for two field goals to end the fifth chukka and give Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine a one-goal advantage with one chukka remaining. Caset’s seventh goal placed his team ahead by two as time was beginning to run out for a Park Place comeback, but foul trouble became a factor for Murus Sanctus-La Magdeleine. Receiving four fouls, Park Place’s Facundo Pieres converted three penalty goals, while also adding one field goal to finish the game with four unanswered goals and secure the 12-10 victory.