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Catamount Defeats Goose Creek in USPA Sieber Memorial Featured Game

Catamount’s Carlos Gracida (3) working the ball away from Cote Zeggers (3) and Maureen Brennan (2) of Goose Creek. Photos by Scott Fisher.

Tano Vial Named MVP

WELLINGTON, FL – Feb. 22, 2014 — Catamount built a five-goal halftime lead and held off a late rally to defeat Goose Creek, 9-8, Saturday in the USPA Sieber Memorial 12-Goal Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Catamount (Alejandro Gonzalez, Marcos Alberdi, Carlos Gracida, Scott Devon) dominated the first half behind Gracida and Devon, who combined for six goals.

Goose Creek (Lucas Arellano, Maureen Brennan, Cote Zeggers, Tano Vial) found its momentum and started to reel in Catamount.

“When you have a big lead like we did, you start making mistakes,” Gracida said. “When you are up by four or five goals it is easy to have a letdown.”

Gracida, a Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler, scored a game-high five goals. Devon added three goals and Gonzalez had one.

“I love my team,” Gracida said. “We can play better. We missed a lot of goals, but I am very happy with the way we are playing. I made a mistake in the fourth and fifth chukkers trying to mark Vial. I lost control of the game but in the last chukker I changed the tactics again. That made a difference.

“Tano was outstanding; he played very well. He did exactly what he needed to do to change the tactics in the second half.”

Vial, 30, of Chile, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after playing well on both ends of the field. He finished with three second-half goals. Zeggers also scored three first-half goals and Brennan added two goals.

It was the second time in three weeks Vial was named MVP. “They like me a lot here,” Vial said with a smile.

Vial was a member of the Chile National team that lost to Team USA last November in the International Cup at Grand Champions.

Marcos Alberdi (2) of Catamount reaches for the ball despite defensive pressure from Goose Creek's Maureen Brennan (2) and Tano Vial (4)
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Marcos Alberdi (2) of Catamount reaches for the ball despite defensive pressure from Goose Creek’s Maureen Brennan (2) and Tano Vial (4)

“I think the mistake we made with Catamount was we didn’t change the way we played earlier,” said Vial, who started playing polo at age 12 in Chile.

“We changed our game in the fourth chukker and we probably should have done it in the second or third,” Vial said. “We have a nice team. All the teams here are very competitive. We have been winning and losing all our games by one goal.

“It doesn’t look or feel like 12 goal when you are in the game. You see Carlos Gracida playing with all these nice horses.”

The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber who died from a polo-related accident 29 years ago at Oak Brook, Ill. Sieber’s brother, Jake, was among spectators during the game.

Terri Devon presented the awards during Saturday’s trophy presentation with the players.

Grand Champions Polo Club’s state-of-the-art instant replay technology was used during the game which was also live streamed, both provided by PoloNow Network.

The club also hosted an asado for players, families and spectators catered by Cilantro’s Gourmet Deli owner Herman Moreira.

SIEBER MEMORIAL TROPHY (12-Goal) RESULTS:

Pony Express 16, Hawk Hill 13: Tomas Goti scored seven goals for the winners. Matt Coppola had 10 goals for Hawk Hill.

Palm Beach Equine 13, Skaneateles 7: Agustin Arellano had five goals and Lucas Lalor added four goals for the winners.

Hawk Hill 12, Far Niente 9: Matt Coppola scored six goals for the winners.

KIG 9, Casablanca 7: Brandon Phillips scored the tying goal and Marc Ganzi scored the winning goal. Ganzi led scoring with four goals.

Enigma 8, KIG 6: Mariano Obregon scored five goals including the tying and winning goal.

CYRIL R. HARRISON (8-Goal) RESULTS:

Tonchala 11, Tuffriders 8: Tavi Usandizaga scored a game-high eight goals for the winners.

Hawk Hill 9, Naimara/Custer Capital 7: Mackenzie Weisz led scoring with four goals and teammate Raul Colombres scored the tying and winning goal.

HALO POLO CUP (5-Goal) RESULTS:

SLS Jets 8, Patagones Blanco 7: Tavi Usandizaga led scoring with six goals including the winning goal.

Patagones Azul 8, Ganaraska 7: Martin Astrada scored five goals including the game-winner.

Top Gun 8, Santa Clara 5: Guille Usandizaga led scoring with six goals.

SLS Jets 13, Ganaraska 5: Tavi Usandizaga led scoring with eight goals.

Alejandro Gonzalez (1) of Catamount works the ball downfield
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Alejandro Gonzalez (1) of Catamount works the ball downfield

For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go to www.grandchampionspoloclub.org. Game video can also be seen at PoloNow Network at http://www.polonow.tv/.

2014 HIGH GOAL SEASON

FEBRUARY 21 – MARCH 2: C. V. Whitney Cup – Wednesday, Semifinals, Orchard Hill vs. Crab Orchard 1 p.m., Valiente vs. Alegria, 3 p.m.; Thursday, Les Armour Cup, Semifinals, Audi vs. Coca-Cola, 10:30 a.m.; Lechuza Caracas vs. Flight Options, 1 p.m.; MARCH 2, Les Armour Cup final, noon; Championship Final, 3 p.m.

FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 8: Iglehart Cup – FEB. 28, CT Energia vs. Palm Beach Illustrated, 1 p.m.; Casablanca vs. Los Machitos/Heathcote, 3 p.m.; MARCH 5, Semifinals 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 8, Final, 1 p.m.

MARCH 5-23: USPA Piaget Gold Cup

MARCH 26 – APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships

GRAND CHAMPIONS @ PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)

FEBRUARY: Halo Polo Trophy (5 Goals); USPA Cyril R. Harrison Trophy; USPA Sieber Memorial Trophy.

MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5 goals); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; USPA Regional President’s Cup (8 goals); $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament; The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals).

APRIL: Las Acacias (5 goals); USPA Association Cup (8 goals); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goals); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16 goals).

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)

MARCH 9: Great Futures Celebrity Polo Match, 10 a.m., benefitting the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington.

MARCH 17: Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament

APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament

APRIL 8-12: Women’s Championship Tournament

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

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