Facundo Sola, Segundo Merlos, Nic Roldan and Miguel Novillo Astrada. Photo: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.
Sola Seals the Deal for Las Monjitas in OT with 12-11 Win over FlexJet
Wellington, FL – February 26, 2015 – Las Monjitas defeated FlexJet 12-11 in overtime during the semifinal of the Les Armour Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) on Thursday.
Play began in fits and starts, with the first few goals made on penalty shots or conversions. Sebastian Merlos scored the first field goal, tapping the ball in to tie the game 2-2. The match continued tightly contested, with neither team ever able to secure more than a two-goal lead.
Facundo Sola chalked up two back-to-back goals in the second chukker for Las Monjitas. Gonzalito Pieres, who demonstrated his penalty shooting prowess throughout the game, promptly converted to retie the score. After a stretch of back-and-forth play that saw the score tied (and untied) several times, Sola and Sebastian Merlos pulled Las Monjitas into an 8-6 lead at the end of the third chukker. But during this game, no lead was safe.
FlexJet showed tremendous mental toughness in the fourth chukker, carrying the ball with determination to tie the game 8-8. The father-and-son Merlos duo had the play of the day in the fifth chukker. Sebastian Merlos hit a pass out of the air to his son, Segundo Merlos, who drove the ball in to score. Nic Roldan and the FlexJet squad played power polo throughout the fifth chukker as they fought to stay in the game.
On a challenge by Las Monjitas, an important call was overturned in the final chukker through the use of instant replay Then Sola scored, and FlexJet immediately responded with an incredible play. Pieres hit a backshot out of the bowl-in, and Roldan accelerated with astounding speed to drive a goal in, prompting announcer Toby Wayman to dub him “the magic man – now you see him, now you don’t.”
With the score tied 11-all, it came down to a penalty shot to determine whether the game would go into overtime. The shot went wide, and the teams headed back to their tents to regroup and strategize. Just seconds into overtime a whistle blew, and the call was challenged. The ruling of no foul was upheld. In the resulting bowl-in Sola made a break for it, slamming in a goal to end the match 12-11.
Segundo Merlos was thrilled with his debut in 26-goal polo. “I think it was very good experience, and playing with these guys that play amazing is so different,” he said, his face awash in excitement. “You feel like the game is so much faster than in low-goal. I really enjoyed it.”
Sebastian Merlos was pleased with Las Monjitas’s performance, particularly given that it was only second game the team had played together. Still, he said there is room for improvement in the final.
“I think we had good second, third and fourth chukkers, and then we fouled a little bit too much, especially Facundo and myself,” he said. “When we have position on the ball, we are a very good team. When we don’t have position on the ball, we are a little bit too anxious to get the ball back.”
The Les Armour Cup Final will be held Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, with Las Monjitas taking on Lechuza Caracas at noon. The 3 p.m. feature match will pit Alegria against Orchard Hill in the C. V. Whitney Cup Final.
In Flying Finish, Lechuza Caracas Defeats Coca-Cola 9-8
Lechuza Caracas led for only two minutes and change in the Les Armour Cup semifinal, but its timing was perfect. Nico Pieres scored the go-ahead goal with 2:39 left in the sixth chukker to give Lechuza its first and last lead of the game (9-8) over Coca-Cola, propelling Lechuza into the Les Armour Cup Final.
Pieres, who scored all six of his goals in the second half, made no excuses for the slow start. “We started very badly, maybe especially me and Juan Ma,” he said afterward.
“Si!” interjected 10-goal player Juan Martin Nero, as quick as Pieres to own a mistake.
Pieres reflected for a moment. “But then we changed a bit and started hitting the ball and scoring some goals, and I think that was the difference in the game,” he said.
Both teams started tentatively in the first chukker. With significant changes in their rosters from the previous year, Lechuza and Coca-Cola appeared to still be adjusting to new teammates. Coca-Cola got on the board with a goal by Pelon Stirling but then saw several shots go wide of goal. Victor Vargas broke the scoring drought for both teams with a run to the south goal to start the second chukker. That seemed to galvanize his opposition, as Julio Arellano then went on a four-goal run to put Coca-Cola in the lead 5-1 at the end of the second chukker.
Play continued in the same theme in the third chukker. Coca-Cola stayed on the offensive but several drives went wide of goal. Arellano scored again to give Coca-Cola a huge 6-1 lead. Vargas was finally able to score for Lechuza in the closing moments of the third, giving hope to his team and tightening the gap to 6-2. As the teams rode off the field for halftime, announcer Toby Wayman quoted his father, polo legend Tommy Wayman: “It’s better to go into halftime down a couple goals so you come out hungry.”
Those tactful words were prophetic, as Lechuza outscored Coca-Cola 3-1 in the fourth. Shots by Pieres and Nero found the mark, countered only by a beautiful run to goal by Gillian Johnston on one of her stunning gray horses.
The comeback continued for Lechuza in the fifth chukker. Riding a very agile brown mare named Confu (short for Confusion), Pieres used his pony power to score two more goals and tie the match at 7-all. That seemed to have an electric effect on Arellano. He took back the lead for Coca-Cola on a nearside shot to goal – his specialty – to close out the fifth chukker with Coca-Cola clinging to an 8-7 lead.
The Lechuza team was feeling the fire now, and a penalty two conversion by Pieres retied the game at 8-all. After a series of plays at the boards, Nero sent a pass to Pieres at midfield. Pieres had a horse-length lead on his defender and ran the ball straight to goal for the score, the lead and the match.
Lechuza will face Las Monjitas in the 26-goal Les Armour Cup Final at noon on Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
International Polo Club Palm Beach Fast Facts
What: Created by players for players, the International Polo Club Palm Beach was born out of the dream to build a facility to showcase the incredible skills of the ponies and players that dominate the sport.
Members and guests enjoy panoramic views of the action from field side box seats or lawn and terrace seating. Sponsors and fans convene at The Winners Circle to congratulate the players during the awards presentation following the games.
Gourmet brunches, après polo celebrations and the prerequisite charitable events will take place in The Pavilion, designed to accommodate large parties, corporate clients, as well as family and friends.
Featured Highlights:
Herbie Pennell Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 1-4, 2015
Joe Barry Memorial Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 4-25, 2015
Ylvisaker Cup – 20 Goal
Jan. 28 – February 22, 2015
Iglehart Cup – 20 Goal
Feb. 28 – March 8, 2015
USPA C. V. Whitney Cup – 26 Goal
Feb. 15 – March 1, 2015
Piaget USPA Gold Cup® – 26 Goal
March 4-22, 2015
111th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship® – 26 Goal
March 25 – April 19, 2015
Directions:
From the Turnpike:
Take the Lake Worth Exit
Head west on FL-802 W/Lake Worth Rd toward Hooks Rd
Continue to follow Lake Worth Rd (3.9 miles)
Turn right onto 120th Ave S
Destination will be ahead on the left (0.4 miles)
From I-95:
Exit Forest Hill Blvd, head West
Make Left turn onto 441/St Rd 7
Make Right turn onto Lake Worth Rd
Make Right turn onto 120th Ave S
Destination on Left
Information:
3667 120th Ave S, Wellington, FL 33414
International Polo Club Palm Beach: 561-204-5687
Mallet Grille: 561-282-5340
Spa & Fitness Center: 561-282-5288
Tennis Pro Shop: 561-795-7228
Polo Operations Office: 561-282-5283
Polo Hotline: 561-282-5290
Website:
www.internationalpoloclub.com
For Tickets:
http://internationalpoloclub.ticketleap.com/
Hotels:
Hampton Inn & Suites – (561) 472-9696 – Approximately 2 miles
Hampton Inn – (561) 472-5980 – Approximately 4 miles
Four Seasons Resort – (561) 582-2800 – Approximately 9 miles
The Breakers – (561) 655-6611 – Approximately 9 miles
Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa – (561) 540-6440 – Approximately 9 miles
Management:
John Wash – President of Club Operations
jwash@internationalpoloclub.com
561-282-5353
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com