Tag Archives: Maserati U.S. Open

Audi Ends 2013 High Goal Season with 12-8 Loss to Defending U.S. Open Champion Zacara

Audi’s Nico Pieres goes after the ball with Zacara’s Mike Azzaro and Magoo LaPrida defending and Audi teammate Jeff Hall backing up his teammate. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – April 14, 2013 — Audi, given new life when Coca-Cola eliminated Zorzal, went down fighting Sunday in the quarterfinals of the 109th Maserati U.S. Open in front of a packed crowd at Isla Carroll East.

Leading 5-2 early in the third chukker, Audi lost its momentum in the fourth chukker and was unable to regain its composure ending its rollercoaster season at the hands of defending U.S. Open champion Zacara.

Zacara opened the second half with its best horses and outscored Audi 5-1 in the fourth chukker to defeat Audi, 12-8.

“I think we felt we had as good a chance as anyone,” Audi team captain Marc Ganzi said. “Recognizing this side of the bracket eventually meets Valiente, we felt there was a pretty clear path to get there if we could get through this game. This was the toughest game.”

Zacara 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, playing against brothers Gonzalito and Nico Pieres, led all scoring with nine goals including four in the fourth chukker.

The Pieres brothers along with Ganzi won the 2009 U.S. Open.

Gonzalito Pieres drives downfield with brother and 10-goaler Facundo Pieres of Zacara in hot pursuit
Gonzalito Pieres drives downfield with brother and 10-goaler Facundo Pieres of Zacara in hot pursuit

“We are in to win this tournament,” Facundo Pieres said. “It’s hard to play my brothers. It’s not nice to play against them. I am very happy for myself but feel really bad for them.”

Zacara (4-0), one of only two teams left undefeated in the 11-team tournament, will play Alegria (2-1), 10-9 winners over ERG (2-2) in Wednesday’s semifinal game at 4 p.m.

Valiente (5-0), 15-12 winners over Orchard Hill (1-3) will play Coca-Cola (2-2), 11-10 winners over Lechuza Caracas (2-2) in the other semifinal at 2 p.m.

“The first half we missed a lot of goals, five or six goals,” Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea said. “We knew that the odds were if we kept playing the way we were playing eventually they would come. Audi is a good team. There are no simple games in this tournament.”

Ganzi was forced to come out the fourth chukker when he lost the feeling in his right arm. Ganzi has been playing with a broken thumb, bruised arm and knee injury this season.

Wellington High senior Juancito Bollini, 16, replaced him for one chukker and defended well against former 10-goaler Mike Azzaro. Ganzi returned to the game in the fifth chukker but by then Zacara had found its momentum.

“It was unfortunate, my muscles had shut down and I just needed 15 minutes to get some ice and electro-stimulation,” Ganzi said. “I got my power back but I had no grip. My muscles had fatigued and cramped.”

Ganzi opted not to take the 15-minute injury timeout and sent Bollini in.

“I figured Juan could get out there and fill in pretty well,” Ganzi said. “He had filled in pretty well all season. It’s not on him. They came out after making a really nice halftime adjustment on the throw-ins and that opened up the space for them.

“With Mike Azzaro up front he was able to peel off, go receive passes and score goals again,” Ganzi said. “That’s what this team does well. When Mike scores, they win. When you shut Mike down you cut off their scoring and then you’re forcing Facundo and Magoo (LaPrida) to shoot from long distances. That’s what we tried to in the first half and it worked.

“We had a really good game plan to neutralize Magoo but the fourth chukker gave them life.”

Like many of its 26-goal games this season, it was a rollercoaster ride for Grand Champion Polo Club-based Audi against Zacara playing well the first half and then digging itself out of a hole in the second half.

Marc Ganzi going for the ball while playing with a broken right thumb and protective white sleeve on right arm
Marc Ganzi going for the ball while playing with a broken right thumb and protective white sleeve on right arm

“This was the defending U.S. Open champs; we knew this was going to be a tough, tough match-up,” Ganzi said. “We felt this was an even game inside the field.

“It’s the story of the season, close a bunch of times. We have some good chukkers and some bad chukkers. We win the first, second and third, we lose the fourth badly, we tie the fifth and lose the sixth. There’s your game.”

For Audi’s Jeff Hall, one of America’s top players rated at 7 goals, it was the end of a long season. Hall will now return to Texas where he plans to compete in 14-goal polo.

“I think we played a really good first half,” Hall said. “They made some good changes at halftime. They put Facundo in the back and Mike up front. They won a bunch of throw-ins. Their tactics were different.

“It was tough losing Marc in that chukker; that was uncontrollable. We were with the plan, we were playing well and we had rhythm. Everyone was pretty focused. We missed some back shots in the fourth. They just really outplayed us; the fourth chukker got us.

“It was a tough season,” Hall said. “It just seemed like we never got our rhythm 100 percent.”

Nico Pieres led Audi scoring with five goals including two on penalty shots. Gonzalito Pieres had three goals, all in the second chukker. In addition to Facundo Pieres nine goals, Azzaro had two and LaPrida one goal.

When asked what he was doing the remainder of the month, Ganzi said, “I am going to try and relax.” He plans to undergo knee surgery later on this year and will rest his right arm and broken thumb.

On Thursday, Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget will play Faraway for the Hall of Fame Cup at 4 p.m.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

PIAGET U.S. OPEN/HALL OF FAME CUP SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 17, U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 18, Hall of Fame Cup final, Piaget vs. Faraway, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 21: 109th Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, 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.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Defending Champion Zacara Edges Piaget, 9-7, in Maserati U.S. Open

Piaget’s Nacho Astrada hits a neck shot past Zacara’s Facundo Pieres. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

Piaget Will Play Hall of Fame Cup

WELLINGTON, FL – April 12, 2013 — Despite an impressive makeshift lineup that featured new addition Nacho Novillo Astrada joining his brother Miguel Novillo Astrada, Piaget lost to defending U.S. Open champion Zacara, 9-7, Thursday in the 109th Maserati U.S. Open at Isla Carroll West.

The loss eliminates Piaget from U.S. Open play. The Grand Champions Polo Club-based team will now play Faraway in the Hall of Fame Cup on a date still to be determined.

Grand Champions club mate Audi remains alive in the U.S. Open and plays Zacara in Sunday’s quarterfinals at 10 a.m.

Nacho Novillo Astrada got the call from his older brother Wednesday afternoon in Buenos Aires, hopped a plane for the nearly nine-hour flight to South Florida and still showed no signs of jet lag.

“I slept a little bit during the night, it was a nice flight,” Astrada said.

The fourth youngest of five brothers and rated at 9 goals, Nacho Novillo Astrada, 35, found obvious chemistry with not only his 37-year-old brother but also 23-year-old 6-goaler Nacho Badiola and team captain Melissa Ganzi.

The makeshift lineup was pulled together after 10-goaler Sapo Caset suffered a pulled groin against Alegria on Monday and was advised not to play by doctors and his trainer.

Nacho Novillo Astrada took time off from his season with La Aguada to play for Piaget.

Nacho Astrada keeps possession of the ball despite defense from Zacara's Magoo Laprida
Nacho Astrada keeps possession of the ball despite defense from Zacara’s Magoo Laprida

The Novillo Astrada brothers are the family behind the legendary La Aguada high goal team in Argentina. In front of their 90-year-old grandfather Julio and father Taio, both polo legends, brothers Eduardo, Miguel, Javier and Nacho Astrada won the 2003 Argentine Open.

“I was able to adjust quickly because the horses were good and my teammates were good players, too, and the high goal game is quick,” Nacho Novillo Astrada said.

“It takes more than chemistry between brothers but we do play quite a lot with me at back and him at three,” Nacho Novillo Astrada said. “We tried to make a game plan that was real easy. We did not get too complicated so we could get to know each other quickly.

“We tried to play as best as possible. Zacara is not only a good team but they played last year together and we just played this one game.”

The other Astrada brothers are Eduardo, 40, Javier, 36, and Alejandro, 31. The Astrada siblings were born and raised on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Their grandfather would pile them in his truck and take them to and from polo games in Buenos Aires. Their father was a 9-goaler in his prime.

“We were lucky our little sister Veronica came as the sixth child, if not, we were going to make a soccer team of 11 boys and have our parents keep trying for more children,” Eduardo once said.

Nacho Novillo Astrada gave Zacara fits all day with his ball-hawking defense and long, deft passing to his teammates.

One of Piaget’s most memorable plays of the day was when Badiola, making his IPC high goal debut this season, perfectly timed his run in front of the goal mouth to block Facundo Pieres’ penalty-three goal attempt with 2:12 left in the fourth chukker.

Piaget got balanced scoring from Miguel Novillo Astrada with three goals, Nacho Novillo Astrada and Nacho Badiola, each with two goals.

“We were waiting to see what was happening with Audi to see if they made it,” Miguel Astrada said. “If they didn’t qualify we were going to play with Gonzalito Pieres. Nacho was the back-up plan.

“It was very tough for Nacho; he had to fly last night and flew in this morning. He played very well despite having to adjust to the lineup. He did a really good job. We played the last three years together here in the 26-goal so we know each other very well. It’s very easy for us.

“This is our first year together playing the Open,” Miguel Astrada continued. “It takes time to get organized. Sometimes you do really well the first year; it takes a little bit of planning ahead. I think we can start getting organized with time for next year. We should do better next season. We learned from this season.”

Ganzi returned to her Piaget lineup and played well despite a still healing pulled right groin and hip flexor.

It was another close loss for Piaget, just three days after dropping an 8-7 decision to Alegria a different makeshift lineup that included Juan Bollini, Lucas Lalor and Matias Sosa.

Nacho Badiola drives downfield as he tries to hit the ball out of the air with Zacara's Lyndon Lea defending
Nacho Badiola drives downfield as he tries to hit the ball out of the air with Zacara’s Lyndon Lea defending

Trailing 1-0 after the opening chukker, Badiola drove downfield and scored on a perfectly-angled cut shot to tie the game at 1-1 with six minutes left in the second chukker. Miguel Astrada’s goal at the 2:09 mark gave Piaget a 2-1 lead but it was the last time the team would have the lead.

“Nacho and Miguel Astrada played a lot together and that makes a big difference,” Piaget coach Joey Casey said.

“Zacara is a good team, one of the best teams in the Open and we played well but it was going to take a perfect game to beat them,” Casey said.

“We just had some bad luck. We’re going to have to regroup and get ready for next season. Overall this year we were close and played well. We were close in the Gold Cup in every game, pretty close in this tournament. We had one bad game and that was against Orchard Hill. At the end of the day, you’ve got to win to advance and we didn’t.”

If there was an MVP awarded in the first of three games on Thursday, it most certainly would have been recent Hall of Fame inductee Mike Azzaro, playing well above his 7-goal rating at both ends of the field.

Azzaro led scoring with four goals, including two off missed shots by teammates and two on quick breakaways. Pieres added three goals.

In other Thursday games, Faraway, behind Nic Roldan’s eight goals defeated Lechuza Caracas, 8-7; and Orchard Hill, led by 8-goaler Matias McDonough’s 12 goals, routed Alegria, 16-6. Alegria’s Mariano Aguerre and Hilario Ulloa were assessed technicals in the sixth chukker.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE

Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals: Audi vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.; ERG vs. Alegria, 10 a.m.; Coca-Cola vs. Lechuza Caracas, noon; Valiente vs. Orchard Hill, 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 21: Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

Hall of Fame Cup subsidiary, Piaget vs. Farawar, TBA

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, 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.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Audi Beats Zorzal in Overtime to Remain in Contention in 109th Maserati U.S. Open

Jeff Hall goes to back the ball. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – April 1, 2013 – Audi looked like its old winning self Sunday in the 109th Maserati U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

And it couldn’t come at a more perfect time.

After six hard-fought chukkers, Jeff Hall shook off a back injury to score the winning goal 17 seconds into sudden death overtime to lead Audi to a thrilling come-from-behind 11-10 victory over Zorzal to remain alive in the U.S. Open.

It was the second time this season that Audi, coming off Thursday’s 12-11 loss to Coca-Cola, defeated Zorzal in overtime.

Hall took a tap from Juancito Bollini after the throw-in and raced towards goal, weaving his way past defenders Freddie Mannix and Jason Crowder to score his first goal of the game.

“I thought to myself, ‘just go score it,’” said Hall, one of the top American players rated at seven goals. “I felt good.

“That’s one of my favorite horses,” Hall said. “I actually played him three times today. He’s really comfortable to hit the ball on. He’s really quick so as soon as I got it and passed Freddie I knew I had a good chance to score. That was a super tough team.”

Audi 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres hit a 30-yard penalty shot with 34 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

“This was all-or-nothing for us,” Hall said. “If we had lost today it would have put us in a really tough situation. We have a good team. We’ve just had some bad luck lately. Hopefully, it turns around for us at the end.”

The victory may have been a costly one. Audi team captain Marc Ganzi, playing despite a broken thumb and knee injury, was hit on his mallet arm by a horse’s head and was forced to leave the game with 4:13 left in the fourth chukker.

“I’ve played the U.S. Open for seven years and never been injured,” Ganzi said. “I broke some ribs but I was able to play through that. This is frustrating because all of the injuries are occurring to my mallet hand and if you can’t have a mallet hand it’s difficult to play the game.

“The good news is we have a system, we didn’t abandon the system and Jeff makes an amazing play to win the game. And, we have a really good substitute in Juancito.”

Bollini, 16, a Wellington High School senior, replaced Ganzi in the lineup and scored a goal to tie the game at 9-9 in the sixth chukker. “It was a good back shot by Nico to me,” said Bollini of his teammate’s assist.

“I went to the team meeting yesterday and I knew what Marc was going to do so when I got in I knew what I had to do and what I had to get,” Bollini said. “I felt really good and more in rhythm. It was a relief when Jeff scored. This gave us a big breath for the next game.”

After a 4-4 halftime, Audi fell behind by three goals in the fourth chukker (7-4) but dug itself out of a hole in the fifth and sixth chukkers.

“We persevered,” Ganzi said. “The first half we played them even. The second half we played them even. We continue to live and now we go on to the next one.”

Nico Pieres controls the ball on his way downfield
Nico Pieres controls the ball on his way downfield

Nico Pieres led Audi scoring with six goals. Gonzalito Pieres added three goals. Audi was also awarded a penalty one automatic goal after Ganzi was fouled.

“It was an important win,” Nico Pieres said. “It was really important, now we are 1-1. I think we have to play the whole game like we did today in the last two chukkers.

“In the middle of every game we have some five or six minutes that are terrible and they can score a lot of goals,” Pieres said. “We have to focus on every chukker, every play and I think we can be much better.”

In the early Sunday game, Valiente, coming off a 13-9 victory over Zacara in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup final, won its opener of the U.S. Open with an equally impressive 15-7 victory over Coca-Cola.

Ten-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso led Valiente scoring with six goals, Santi Torres had five including one that bounced off the goal post and 10-goaler Pelon Stirling had four.

In the third Sunday game, 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and Mike Azzaro each scored four goals to lead Zacara to a 12-10 win over Orchard Hill. Azzaro, a former 10-goaler, was named MVP. Team captain Lyndon Lea, despite a hip injury, scored two goals.

In this year’s U.S. Open, there are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.

The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.

Zacara is defending U.S. Open champion.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.

The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins. In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.

Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.

Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals

Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 20: Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 21: Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, 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.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Lechuza Caracas Defeats Piaget in Opening Game of 109th Maserati U.S. Open

Sapo Caset of Piaget controlling the ball on a breakaway downfield. Photos – David Lominska.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 30, 2013 — Piaget lost its opening game of the 109th Maserati U.S. Open on Saturday after its sixth-chukker rally fell short, losing to Lechuza Caracas, 14-11, at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi suffered a severe groin pull, according to trainer Jeremy Fedoruk, in the fourth chukker and was forced to leave the game.

Ganzi tried to return to the game but was replaced by 17-year-old Lorenzo Merlotti, a senior at Palm Beach Central High School who was watching the game on the sidelines. It was his 26-goal debut after playing two 20-goal games earlier this season for Crab Orchard.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget opened the game strong with a 3-0 lead in the first chukker with goals from the team’s two 10-goalers Sapo Caset (two goals), and Miguel Astrada (one). Piaget missed a penalty shot late in the chukker.

“The first half I felt we should have been up by three or four and we weren’t,” Piaget coach Joey Casey said. “I thought we outplayed them the first half and I thought things would go in our favor a little bit in the second half but it didn’t happen.”

Lechuza Caracas started chipping away at the Piaget lead behind Polito Pieres and Juan Martin Nero.

Lechuza Caracas outscored Piaget, 3-1, in the second and third chukkers and went into the half with a 6-5 advantage.

“We started strong and then after halftime I thought we were going to do really well, but then had a bad fourth chukker where they dominated,” Casey said.

Lechuza Caracas scored another three goals in the fourth chukker to increase its lead, 9-6, late in the chukker before Caset converted a penalty goal to cut their lead to 9-7.

Lechuza Caracas scored three consecutive goals for a 12-7 lead before Astrada lofted an amazing 90-yard shot to score in the final seconds of the fifth chukker.

Piaget continued to mount a charge early in the sixth chukker, closing the gap to 12-10 on a big neck shot goal by Caset and again to 13-11 on another amazing Caset neck shot with 2:28 remaining.

But Lechuza Caracas and its lightning-quick horses seemed to have an answer for every Piaget goal.

Nacho Badiola of Piaget fights for the ball against Lechuza Caracas' Juan Martin Nero
Nacho Badiola of Piaget fights for the ball against Lechuza Caracas’ Juan Martin Nero

“In the fifth chukker we did some really good things, but every time we would score they would answer with another one,” Casey said. “We just couldn’t get ahead. We came back strong again in the beginning of the sixth for the first four minutes.

“We would play really well and then we wouldn’t play well and they would score two or three goals,” Casey said. “After Melissa’s injury, Lechuza started back on fire. They came out on fire and killed us. They made a couple goals – boom, boom, boom. It felt like then we were desperate trying to catch up and over running some plays.”

Caset finished the game with nine goals, including four on penalty shots. Astrada, the team workhorse throughout the game, added one goal. Polito Pieres led Lechuza Caracas with nine goals, six on penalty shots. Team captain Victor Vargas had goals in the fifth and sixth chukkers.

“We started very strong but then they had a very good fourth chukker,” Astrada said. “They had good horses that chukker and played very well. Then Melissa got hurt. Melissa was playing really well and we lost the momentum.

“We had to re-organize the team and it was tough even though we did better in the last chukker,” Astrada said. “They are a great team with good horses and good organization. It is difficult to beat them.”

For Merlotti, it was an opportunity of a lifetime to go from watching a U.S. Open game to playing one.

“I wasn’t really nervous but it felt good definitely,” Merlotti said. “The horses felt great. The adrenaline is crazy when you play this kind of polo.

“It took me a while to get used to the game,” Merlotti said. “I didn’t really have to warm up, I guess because I am so young. As soon as I got on the field I was already into it. The players told me to have fun, don’t stress it. Victor has really fast horses; it was really hard. I could have been better – maybe next time.”

Sapo Caset of Piaget driving downfield on the way to scoring one of his nine goals
Sapo Caset of Piaget driving downfield on the way to scoring one of his nine goals

Ganzi hopes to return to the lineup for this week’s game against Alegria on Friday. She will undergo extensive physical therapy and is day-to-day.

“We won’t know how serious Melissa’s injury is until Sunday,” Casey said.

“We’re still in it,” Casey said. “We have two tough games left but we’ll regroup. Hopefully, we will win one of those games and get back in it. Anybody can win on any given day.”

In Saturday’s other U.S. Open game, Alegria defeated Faraway, 11-7. Facundo Obregon led Alegria with four goals. Nic Roldan scored four goals for Faraway, three on penalty shots.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi will play Zorzal on Sunday at 12 noon on Field 2.

There are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.

The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.

Zacara, led by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and coming off its USPA Gold Cup loss to Valiente, is defending U.S. Open champion.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.

The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins. In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 31, Audi vs. Zorzal, noon, Field 2.

Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.

Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.

Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals

Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 20: Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 21: Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, 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.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Coca-Cola Rallies to Beat Audi in Opening Game of 109th Maserati U.S. Open

Audi team captain Marc Ganzi about to hit the ball downfield. Photos: David Lominska.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 29, 2013 — Audi dropped a 12-11 decision to Coca-Cola in the opening game of the 109th Maserati U.S. Open Thursday in front of a packed crowd at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In control for the first four chukkers, Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi led by many as four goals late in the third chukker (8-4) and maintained a three-goal advantage in the fourth chukker.

Audi penalties and mental errors allowed Coca-Cola back in the game in the fifth chukker.

Audi, winners of the 2009 U.S. Open, is hoping to find its winning form before the 26-goal season ends next month. For four chukkers Audi did just that behind the scoring and incredible passing of brothers Gonzalito and Nico Pieres and defense of American Jeff Hall.

Audi team captain Marc Ganzi returned to the lineup in the second half after 16-year-old Juancito Bollini, a Wellington High senior, started the game and played well the first three chukkers defending Coca-Cola Gillian Johnston, one of only two women in the high goal tournament.

Sugar Erskine started the Coca-Cola rally with a big pass to Julio Arellano who cut Audi’s lead to 10-8 with 4:44 left.

After a crucial Audi penalty, Sebastian Merlos hit a big shot downfield which Johnston converted into a goal to trail by only one goal (10-9) at the 2:57 mark.

Nico Pieres keeps eye on the ball as he goes for it mid-air
Nico Pieres keeps eye on the ball as he goes for it mid-air

Nico Pieres missed two scoring opportunities late in the chukker including a missed 30-yard penalty shot and a third goal attempt to open the sixth chukker.

Coca-Cola grabbed the momentum with Erskine coming up with an incredible neck shot to tie the game at 10-10.

Thirty seconds later, Hall came right back with a goal which was first waved wide and then ruled good for an 11-10 Audi lead.

Erskine continued his hot hand taking control of the ball in a crowd and driving for another goal to tie the game at 11-11.

After both teams exchanged penalties, Merlos drove downfield to score what turned out to be the winning goal with 3:09 remaining despite scoring attempts from Nico and Gonzalito Pieres.

Bollini was bumped off his horse with 3:30 left in the second chukker but regained his composure and returned to the game.

Hall and Nico Pieres each had four goals for Audi. Gonzalito Pieres, who had a strong first half, finished with three goals and was shut out in the fifth and sixth chukkers.

Arellano, a Cardinal Newman and Florida Atlantic alum, led Coca-Cola with five goals including three penalty shots. Erskine and Merlos each had three and Johnston added one.

In Thursday’s other U.S. Open game, Zorzal, behind Jason Crowder’s five goals including two in the sixth chukker, defeated ERG, 10-8. ERG team captain Scott Wood did not play and was replaced by 16-year-old Wesley Bryan.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget will play Lechuza Caracas Saturday in its first U.S. Open game at 2 p.m. Piaget is led by 10-goalers Sapo Caset and Miguel Astrada

Gonzalito Pieres keeps possession of the ball despite pressure from Coca-Cola's Julio Arellano
Gonzalito Pieres keeps possession of the ball despite pressure from Coca-Cola’s Julio Arellano

There are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente, the only other team with two 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.

The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.

Zacara, led by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and coming off its USPA Gold Cup loss to Valiente, is defending U.S. Open champion.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.

The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins. In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 30, Piaget vs. Lechuza Caracas, 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 31, Audi vs. Zorzal, noon.

Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.

Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.

Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals

Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 20, Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 21, Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, 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.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Audi Opens 109th Maserati U.S. Open on Thursday; Piaget Plays Saturday

Previous Piaget vs Lechuza Caracas match up.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 27, 2013 — Audi and Piaget, both based at Grand Champions Polo Club, will begin play this week in the prestigious 109th annual Maserati U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Audi opens the tournament on Thursday at 2 p.m. against longtime rival Coca-Cola. Piaget plays Lechuza Caracas on Saturday, also at 2 p.m.

Piaget, one of only two teams with two 10-goal rated players, is coming off a championship victory in the Butler Handicap on Sunday.

Piaget won the title for the second consecutive year with a thrilling 9-8 victory over ERG.

After a lineup adjustment, Piaget has put together two impressive back-to-back wins over Orchard Hill and ERG and look to be among the favorites in the 11-team U.S. Open tournament.

Piaget is led by 10-goalers Sapo Caset and Miguel Astrada and will be joined by 23-year-old 6-goaler Nacho Badiola, making his IPC 26-goal debut this season, and team captain Melissa Ganzi, one of only two women players competing in the high goal tournament.

“The U.S. Open is the highest level and the best level of polo that we have in America,” Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi said. “It’s really special to be able to participate in that and even more amazing to win it. It’s the American Dream.

“The best eight teams should make it to the quarterfinals,” Ganzi said. “I think we are playing well and the timing is perfect. I love playing with two 10-goalers. It’s like playing with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.”

Sapo Caset, coming off his Most Valuable Player, eight-goal performance in the Butler Handicap, is confident about his team’s chances in the U.S. Open. Caset has competed in the finals the past two years.

“We are playing well now and that is important going into the Open focused,” Caset said. “We have a lot of confidence. Our attitude is changed, the horses are going good and we are playing hard.”

Audi009144
Previous Audi vs Coca Cola match up

Audi, winners of the 2009 U.S. Open with brothers Gonzalito, Facundo and Nico Pieres with Ganzi, has advanced into two finals this season and hope to find its winning form return in the Open.

This year’s Audi team features 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres, younger brother and 8-goaler Nico Pieres, 7-goaler Jeff Hall, one of the highest-rated American players, and Ganzi, who has gutted out the season and played well despite a broken thumb and knee injury.

“We have one tournament left and that is the U.S. Open,” Gonzalito Pieres said. “We hope to be ready. We know we have to play better than we have been playing.”

There are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente, the only other team with two 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.

The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.

Zacara, led by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and coming off its USPA Gold Cup loss to Valiente, is the defending U.S. Open champion.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.

The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins.

In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.

Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.

AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 28, Audi vs. Coca-Cola, 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 30, Piaget vs. Lechuza Caracas, 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 31, Audi vs. Zorzal, noon.

Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.

Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.

Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals

Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 20, Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 21, Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 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 Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League Tournament.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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