Tag Archives: USPA Piaget Gold Cup

Audi Drives Off with USPA Piaget Gold Cup

Gonzalito Pieres and Polito Pieres. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2015 – Audi triumphed over Orchard Hill 16-15 in overtime Sunday to win the 2015 USPA Piaget Gold Cup in the featured match on Engel & Völkers field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). It marked the second time Audi has clinched the Gold Cup, having won in 2011, also at IPC.

Gonzalito Pieres and his mount, Rosparita, were recognized for their stellar play in the 2015 final. Pieres, who made the winning goal aboard the mare, was named MVP. Rosparita, who Pieres also played in the second and sixth chukkers, received the Best-Playing Pony award for the match. The Horse of the Tournament award went to Jackie, Polito Pieres’ mount in the fourth chukker.

Earlier in the day, Coca-Cola won the Engel & Völkers Tesoro Cup, defeating Lechuza Caracas 14-11.

It all came down to a penalty shot – and the dead-eye aim of Gonzalito Pieres – to seal the deal for Audi. In an overtime fraught with more anxiety than the stands seemed able to contain, Pieres slammed in his tenth goal, taking the win with authority.

It was a déjà vu moment for Audi, which had also won the 2011 Gold Cup in overtime on a penalty shot by a Pieres. That time it was Nico Pieres, whose slot was filled this year by Freddie Mannix. Other than that, Audi’s lineup was the same Sunday as it had been in its 2011 win.

With just four seconds left in regulation play, Facundo Pieres stole the ball and tied the game at 15-all. Then came the clincher. Audi won the throw-in, but Andrade lost control of the ball. Ganzi snagged it and shot an immediate pass to Mannix, who played a very effective and aggressive number 4 throughout the match. Polito Pieres stole the ball from Mannix. The whistle sounded, with a penalty three awarded to Audi. Orchard Hill challenged the call, and officials reviewed the play on instant replay (provided by horseplay.tv, which live-streamed the game) for what felt to spectators like an eternity. Then came the ruling, which everyone knew in all likelihood would dictate the outcome of the tournament: The foul stood. Game over.

The match had begun 1-0 for Audi because of its handicap in the 26-goal tournament. For the first few chukkers both teams played very tight, almost on top of each other, to keep the opposing team from getting the line. At the end of the first chukker Audi was leading 3-1, with all the goals on the board Pieres points (Gonzalito and Facundo). The two brothers peppered the scoreboard with more points in the second. Gonzolito Pieres pulled off two equally amazing consecutive plays. In the first he jumped on a bouncing ball, bought himself some time on the outside of the pack and made a single slick shot straight into goal. In the next play he stole the ball from his cousin, Polito Pieres, and worked it on both sides of his pony. Going full tilt boogie, it looked like he was on the verge of losing the ball, but in a flash he reached back and made a pinpoint pass to Mannix, who ran it into goal.

Both teams seemed apprehensive and remained heavy on the defense until about three-quarters of the way into the third chukker, when things started to loosen up. The first half ended 8-6 for Audi. Facundo Pieres went on a scoring frenzy in the fourth, racking up four points and bringing Orchard Hill into a slim lead for the first and only time in the game. Andrade made a neckshot, and Mannix jumped on the line. Riding a gray speed stick, he poured it on, passing three, then four, then five players and running the ball straight into goal. From that point on, the score swapped back and forth between a tie and a one-point lead, which Audi stretched to two in the fifth and sixth chukkers. Gonzalito Pieres promptly did it again for Audi, but Polito and Facundo Pieres came right back with three goals – the last of which, courtesy of Facundo Pieres, tied the game at 15-all with just four seconds left in regulation play.

How did it feel going into overtime?

“Our hands were around our own neck,” said Mannix with a laugh as he pretended to choke himself. “It would have been hard to not win this game being up by two with a minute and 40 to go, but Polito’s an amazing player and he made a great play, and Facundo made an incredible goal there at the end.” He gave a nod toward Gonzolito Pieres. “We’re just lucky that we have a great player here – Gonzolito made it look easy at the end. What a game!”

Gonzolito Pieres said he found it “a bit frustrating the way that we had the game nearly won with a penalty five, and I had possession of the ball and Polito took it and they tied the game. It was important that we won the last throw-in and came back. We believe in the team. We tried to open up the game, and we did it well.”

Ganzi was thrilled with the outcome. “It feels amazing!” he said. “We’ve worked so hard for the last three years to get back to this place.” He attributed Audi’s win to “the whole organization, from Melissa (his wife), to the horses, to the fields, to the players, to making the plan with Gonzolito and Freddie back in August. It’s a dream. We fought really hard to get back here, and it means a lot to the whole organization. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work and keeping to our dream.

“This team showed a lot of heart today. We stayed really disciplined and compact in our defense. We didn’t give them a lot. You really have to play every minute of the game against Facundo and Polito.”

Ganzi had awoken Sunday morning not knowing whether he would be playing in the final. Four days ago he injured his shoulder in the semifinals, and his son, Grant Ganzi, subbed in. The 16-year-old remained on deck Sunday in case he was needed again.

“I hit a few balls at 9:30 this morning to see how my arm was, and it felt OK,” said Marc Ganzi. He periodically reassessed his condition, not making the final decision to play until about 15 minutes before the game.

Both Audi and Orchard Hill came into the final undefeated. “That’s a great team,” said Ganzi of his opponents. “They played amazing. They’re champions. They’re the team to beat here, still. The U.S. Open’s going to go through them; we know it.”

Coca-Cola Runs the Field
Defeats Lechuza Caracas 14-11

Coca-Cola defeated Lechuza Caracas 14-11 in the final of the Engel & Völkers Tesoro Cup. Gillian Johnston was awarded Most Valuable Player and Pelon Stirling’s sixth chukker mount Renato was presented with Best Playing Pony.

Pelon Stirling and Nico Pieres
Pelon Stirling and Nico Pieres

Coca-Cola took control of the game from the very first throw-in, immediately making a run to goal and playing their signature passing game to score the first goal of the game. Gillian Johnston made the first of several blazing fast runs to drive a goal in from a pass from Sugar Erskine and make the score 2-0. A penalty conversion from Pelon Stirling and an amazing pick from Johnston ended the first chukker with Coca-Cola firmly in the lead.

Two more unanswered goals had Coca-Cola leading 6-0 in the beginning of the second chukker. A penalty shot by Julio Arellano was blocked by Nico Pieres who shot a pass to Juan Martin Nero. Nero went on the run and put the first goal up on the board for Lechuza Caracas.

A penalty conversion by Arellano made the score 7-1. In what was the play of the game, Arellano had possession of the ball in traffic and Erskine made a perfectly timed hook on the defending Lechuza Caracas player to allow Arellano to drive the ball through the uprights. At that point Lechuza Caracas took off on a scoring spree, making four unanswered goals to end the half 8-5.

Two penalty conversions by Lechuza Caracas put them within one goal of Coca-Cola at the beginning of the fourth chukker. Arellano thought otherwise, and scored two goals in rapid succession. To start off the fifth chukker, Erskine picked Agustin Garcia Grossi and flipped the ball into the goal to make the score 11-7.

Coca-Cola’s passing game came into play. Arellano sent Stirling a pass. Stirling drove the ball to Johnston, who sealed the deal. Lechuza Caracas took a page from Coca-Cola’s book. Nero passed to Victor Vargas. Vargas took the ball through traffic, flipped it to Pieres who finished the job to end the fifth chukker 12-8.

A breakaway by Johnston increased Coca-Cola’s lead to five goals, but Lechuza Caracas turned on the heat to bring them within two goals. A final goal by Stirling with a minute left in the match created an insurmountable lead, and Coca-Cola ended the game 14-11.

Arellano credited Johnston’s speed and accuracy for their win.

“Our MVP put us in the lead today and we just had to maintain it,” said Arellano with a smile. “She (Johnston) was on fire today.”

Stirling felt that this game was a good warm-up for the U.S. Open, which begins on Saturday, March 28.

“We were a little bit unlucky in the [USPA Piaget] Gold Cup. We lost the penalty shootout with Lechuza Caracas and Valiente,” said Stirling. “Our last game was quite a while ago, so it was good for us to get a good run in before next weekend when the Open starts to kind of wake up again and get into a game rhythm.”

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

One Point Lands Audi and Orchard Hill in USPA Piaget Gold Cup Finals

Facundo Sola, Segundo Merlos and Rodrigo Andrade. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Audi Takes Las Monjitas Down to the Wire, 13-12

Wellington, FL – March 18, 2015 – With both of Wednesday’s semifinal matches ending 13-12, Orchard Hill defeated Alegria in overtime and Audi bested Las Monjitas in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club (IPC).

Try to imagine being 16 years old and getting the news that you have to play in the prestigious 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final – and you have just three days to get ready.

Welcome to Grant Ganzi’s world. In the fifth chukker of Wednesday’s semifinals between Audi and Las Monjitas, he suddenly found himself having to sub into the number one position for Audi, which went on to defeat the powerful Las Monjitas team 13-12. His father, Marc Ganzi, had been playing the position – and playing it extremely well – until he injured his shoulder.

“I had never been in a situation like this in my life,” said Grant Ganzi, a junior at St. Andrew’s School. “There was a lot of pressure on my back, and it was really hard. Going in cold is never easy, but I had to be here and be ready. I’ve been ready for three months in case, God forbid, something should happen to my dad. When he fell off, I knew I had to do it, and mentally I couldn’t let it get to me.”

If it did, it certainly didn’t show. Grant Ganzi did a masterful job of controlling his nerves as he held his own on the field with the top players in the world. The match was power polo at its ultimate.

The game opened with an automatic point for Audi based on its 25-goal handicap. Two goals by Gonzalito Pieres and one each by Facundo Sola and Sebastian Merlos brought Audi into a 3-2 lead in the first chukker. In the first 30 seconds of the second chukker, Sola – who has a penchant for coming in hot out of nowhere – ran the ball down the field with supreme confidence as Merlos warded off a tribe of determined defenders. Sola slammed the ball through the goal posts, tying the score at 3-all, and followed up with two more goals in quick succession to move Las Monjitas into the lead. With 18 seconds left in the chukker, Fred Mannix tied the game at 5-all.

In what seemed like a flash, Las Monjitas shot into a two-point lead. In the first play of the third chukker, Pieres lost control of the ball to Sola, who made a run for the money and took a half-shot on goal. Pieres snatched the ball from the goalmouth, drawing a whistle. Las Monjitas picked up a point on a penalty one (to be followed by another in the next chukker). Eduardo Astrada scored on the subsequent shot, turning the initial play into a two-for-one for his team. He gave a repeat performance in the fourth chukker with five seconds left on the clock. Astrada was going for goal with Pieres in pursuit when the whistle blew, resulting in another Audi technical. Once again, Astrada made the goal, bringing Las Monjitas into a 10-7 lead.

Scoreless in the fourth chukker, Audi poured it on in the fifth and sixth, winning several throw-ins and making six more goals (all but one by Pieres). Las Monjitas came back with two goals (one by Sola and the other by Segundo Merlos, the other teenager in the match).

With two-and-a-half minutes left in the fifth chukker and Las Monjitas leading 11-9, Grant Ganzi found himself catapulted into the game, playing against another talented teenager, Segundo Merlos, both of them mixed in with a slew of professional powerhouses. Sola, an 8-goaler, made five goals total in the match, performing as skillfully as his 9-goalers teammates Astrada and Sebastian Merlos. Sola tied the game at 12-all with a minute-and-a-half left in the final chukker. A final penalty goal by Pieres topped off the day for Audi.

Segundo Merlos was playing in place of Camilo Bautista, a strategic repositioning on the part of Las Monjitas, which had lost 16-12 in bracket play against Audi last week.

“They played without Camilo, and they had a different tactic,” said Pieres. While Bautista normally doesn’t come to the ball after a hit, he said, “They were sending Segundo in when it was hit.” Also, he said, normally one of Audi’s best plays is made on the throw-in. “But they were blocking the field really well from us. They were dominating a bit in the beginning, and we weren’t playing our best polo. But we knew our team was set to be in the final.”

In Marc Ganzi’s view, it was a game well fought by both teams. “Kudos to them – they played a hell of a game,” he said. “They learned a lot from the last time they played us, and today they were ready to play.”

He added that he was proud of his son for subbing in for him. “Grant came in and played well, really poised. All season we’ve told him to be ready, and unfortunately today he got the call. But he was ready for it. He’s been playing great all season. Now he has three days to get ready, learn the horses and be super committed.”

After the match, he gave his son marching orders for the rest of the week: “You’ll get up at 5:30 in the morning, ride horses, go to school, and come home and ride more horses. We have three days to figure out which ones play best for you.”

Mannix, meanwhile, was still in the moment. He said he felt like he was floating. “You always want to be in the finals, and (being in) the final for the Gold Cup is amazing!” he said. “It was a good team effort. I’m very happy with the team and very happy with the horses – it was just a beautiful ending to a very tough game.”

Orchard Hill Plays with Swagger
Defeats Alegria Assist Card 13-12 in OT

Orchard Hill defeated Alegria Assist Card 13-12 in overtime in the semifinal of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

In the highly anticipated semifinal match-up of Alegria Assist Card against Orchard Hill, Alegria Assist Card leapt into action out of the first throw-in to drive the ball downfield for a goal attempt. After the shot went wide, Orchard Hill used every player to get the job done and score the first goal of the match. Facundo Pieres then converted to give Orchard Hill a 2-0 lead.

Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Sterling Giannico
Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Sterling Giannico

Hilario Ulloa made an incredible defensive play, taking the ball out of the goalmouth with mere inches to spare and shot the ball downfield to Mariano Aguerre. Julian Mannix sealed the deal to end the first chukker 2-1. Aguerre and Ulloa continued to play on fire into the second chukker, making a breathtaking run to goal. Ulloa sank another goal before Ezequiel Ferrario fired back with a goal of his own to tie the score 3-3.

The game remained fraught with suspense in the third chukker with strong defensive plays on both sides. Mannix took advantage of a missed backshot to tap a goal in on the run and take the lead for Alegria Assist Card. Facundo Pieres completed another penalty conversion to tie the game again at the end of the third chukker.

Facundo Pieres showcased his penalty shooting skills to make the score 5-4 in favor of Orchard Hill, but Mannix had other ideas as he dodged defenders in the next play to score. A penalty one awarded to Alegria Assist Card put them in the lead momentarily. Polito Pieres went on a scoring streak, driving in back to back goals. Facundo Pieres solidified their lead by crushing a shot downfield to end the fourth chukker.

Ulloa kept Alegria Assist Card within striking distance with a goal, and in the next play, things got Western. A penalty against Alegria Assist Card was met with heated debate, ultimately resulting in a penalty two, which Facundo Pieres converted to make the score 9-7. Ferrario accelerated into a breakaway to receive a backshot pass from Facundo Pieres and score. Ulloa sank a penalty conversion to make the score 10-8. Polito Pieres ran the ball through heavy traffic to score and end the fifth chukker.

Alegria Assist Card got busy in the sixth chukker, with Mannix and Aguerre assisting Ulloa in sequential goals. Mannix took the ball nearly end to end to tie the score 11-all. Facundo Pieres nabbed the ball out of the throw-in and demonstrated his incredible ball control down the field effortlessly sending it through the uprights to score. Ulloa responded with a run of his own to tie the game 12-12 and send it into overtime.

A penalty in favor of Alegria Assist Card seemed to foreshadow the conclusion of the match, but Orchard Hill had their ace in the hole. Polito Pieres stole the ball and drove downfield with the ball seemingly glued to the end of his mallet. He tapped the ball in with authority to score. With that goal Orchard Hill advanced to the final of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

For patron Steve Van Andel, all of their team’s energy was focused on winning today’s match.

“I haven’t even thought of [the final]. I was just thinking about today,” said Van Andel.

For Facundo Pieres, seeing his teammate/cousin score the final goal was thrilling.

“The last goal that Polito made, it was amazing,” said Facundo Pieres.

The 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final will be the 3 p.m. featured match at IPC, March 22, preceded by the Tesoro Cup subsidiary at noon. The 18-goal Liberty Cup Final takes place Thursday, March 19 at noon at IPC.

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

Cambiaso Catapults Valiente to Victory, Eclipses Coca-Cola 12-8 in Final Chukker

Pelon Stering and Adolfo Cambiaso. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 12, 2015 – Three exciting matches and a penalty shootout took place at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) as play continued Thursday in the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup. Valiente defeated Coca-Cola 12-8, with both sides of the field so lined with vehicles and spectators that it looked like a Sunday feature match minus the grandstand. Audi bested Las Monjitas 16-12 and Orchard Hill took Lechuza Caracas 12-11.

Alejo Taranco looked at Bob Jornayvaz after the game and came out with the understatement of the season: “I felt like we clicked more today.”

“Clicked” doesn’t even begin to describe the 42 minutes of synchronicity the four Valiente players displayed. Their playbook looked like it had been choreographed by Martha Graham. With the hand (if not the mallet) of megastar Adolfo Cambiaso in nearly every play, Valiente’s action was cohesive beyond belief.

All the way until the final chukker, the score was either tied or separated by a point. Although the action on the field was fast, the game began in fits and starts, with seven whistles in the first chukker. Cambiaso put increasing pressure on Julio Arellano in the second chukker, every now and then charging down the field glued to Arellano’s hip. The two intermittently took turns throwing a hook on each other and otherwise mixing it up.

Arellano was by no means the only recipient of Cambiaso’s attention. The game soon turned into a battle of the Titans between the two 10-goalers. Cambiaso had Pelon Sterling in his crosshairs from the get-go, and vice versa. They seemed to read each other’s plays as though looking through crystal balls (not surprising, given that three years ago they played on a Valiente team together). In the second chukker Cambiaso took the shot on a penalty three, making a 40-yard drive with spot-on accuracy – only to be thwarted by Sterling, who blocked it from cruising into goal. The two tangled again in the third chukker, when Sterling rode Cambiaso off the ball and made a dropshot direct to the mallet of Erskine, who scored.

In a textbook example of how to play polo at its pinnacle, Sterling tied the game at 4-all in the third chukker. After finagling the ball away from Cambiaso and company, he surveyed the field while on the fly aboard a full-steam-ahead gray. The moment a window cracked open, he took a shot from at least 80 yards out and easily found the goal.

For most of the first half, Taranco had been assigned to cover Sterling, with Guillermo Terrera on Erskine. A midgame powwow with Cambiaso resulted in a strategic shift that paid off in spades for Valiente. At the master’s direction, Taranco and Terrera swapped targets for the rest of the game, a move that seemed to keep Coca-Cola guessing how long it was going to last.

The fourth chukker saw renewed Cambiaso-Arellano friction, with one or the other trying to pressure his opponent into a foul (a skill that Cambiaso has nearly branded). One of their more intense skirmishes resulted in an automatic goal on a penalty one, which broke the tie and gave Coca-Cola a 5-4 lead.

Valiente had to regain ground, and Taranco came through for his team with two consecutive goals, the first on a penalty. Then he scored from the field on a play that showed the prowess of both teams. It began with Gillian Johnston slickly picking off Cambiaso’s backshot. He swooped in, took it back in his claws and toyed with it for a bit, leaving his opponents puzzling over what he had in store. Suddenly the ball was hurtling through the air toward goal, and just as quickly Erskine dispatched himself to stop it. Taranco, who had been waiting in the wings, read the play perfectly. He redirected the ball out of Erskine’s self-appointed danger zone and tapped it into goal.

Coca-Cola stormed into the fifth chukker determined to get the upper hand. In a smooth-as-silk series of touches, the ball sailed directly from Sterling to Arellano to Johnston and straight into goal to tie the score 6-all. Then it was Erskine’s turn to score for the team in red. On a determined run, he checked over his shoulder for a split second and then snapped his head forward, turned the corner, moved inside and slammed the ball into goal. (Announcer Gus Whitelaw said it looked like Erskine had looked back to ask, “Who’s there?” and answered himself, “Who cares?” as he smoked on.)

Erskine perpetually made himself the bane of Valiente’s existence. That came as no surprise to the team in white, nor did the strength of Coca-Cola as a unit. As Taranco said of his opponents, “We knew from the beginning that it wasn’t going to be easy. They play simple and classic polo, and they do it very well.”

It all came down to the final chukker, which began tied at 8-all. The game could just as easily have gone in Coca-Cola’s favor, but Valiente pulled the rug out from under their opponents. Cambiaso was at the controls from the moment the chukker opened until the final horn. He scored two goals, followed by one each by Taranco and Bob Jornayvaz. Those four goals went unanswered by Coca-Cola.

“We had a very good sixth chukker, which we needed,” said Taranco. “And we have Adolfo! He made a big difference in how the game ended.”

The quarterfinals of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup will be held Sunday, March 15 at IPC. Alegria plays Valiente at noon and Las Monjitas faces Lechuza Caracas in the 3 p.m. featured match on Engel & Völkers field.

Orchard Hill Hangs Tough to Defeat Lechuza Caracas

Orchard Hill vanquished Lechuza Caracas 12-11 in a nail biter to garner an undefeated record in USPA Piaget Gold Cup bracket play at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Facundo Pieres scored the final goal to secure the win just before the last horn. Facundo had nine goals in the match to outscore all players, including his brother Nico who trailed him with eight goals scored.

Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Nico Pieres
Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Nico Pieres

The third round match had strategic importance for both teams. Orchard Hill entered the match with a 2-0 record and had the goal in mind of securing the top spot in Bracket II and the bye to the semifinals. Lechuza wanted to win to avoid a shootout scenario that could potentially lead to elimination from the tournament.

Orchard Hill superstar Facundo Pieres emphasized the significance of the win, “It was important to win and go straight to the semifinal. We have played a lot of polo, first with the C. V. Whitney final, then we played hard against Lechuza and Coca Cola. It would have been very hard on our horses to play a quarter this weekend in the heat.”

The first half had a lot of quick runs to goal and great teamwork from each team. It also featured some great defense especially from Lechuza’s 10-goal player Juan Martin Nero. Nero played stellar defense against the normally invincible Facundo Pieres, it took Facundo until almost the end of the second chukker to get a goal from the field

After a steeply angled cut shot to goal from the corner by Nero in the first chukker, Lechuza in turn struggled to evade the quick sticks of Orchard Hill. Fortunately for Lechuza, Nico Pieres was shooting his penalties with authority. Nico Pieres was perfect on his penalties including three first half penalty four conversions from the 60 yard line. Thanks to the accuracy of Nico Pieres, Lechuza rode off the field at halftime with a slim 6-5 lead.

Orchard Hill found another realm of speed after the halftime break. Polito and Facundo Pieres teamed up for three flying goals from the field, outrunning Lechuza throughout the chukker. But they couldn’t outrun the steady penalty shooting of Nico Pieres, who continued his perfect performance from the penalty line to the match tied at 8 all.

Orchard Hill briefly took the lead in the fifth as Facundo Pieres won the initial lineup and darted to goal, Nico countered with his first field goal to keep the score tied 9 all.

As temperatures soared on the sultry day, so did the tension level heading into the sixth chukker. The teams traded goals, neither team willing to give an inch. First Nero scored, then Facundo converted a penalty four. Agustine Grossi won a lineup close to goal for a quick shot, only to see Polito dribble the ball through the pack to tie it back up at 11 all. With 1:19 left in the chukker, Orchard Hill was awarded a penalty 5 near mid field. Facundo went to the sidelines for his spare, which was C. V. Whitney Best Playing Pony NutraSweet. The agile mare carried Facundo around the Lechuza defenders, got him back to the ball after a Lechuza back shot, and Facundo and NutraSweet swept through the goal to make the score 12-11 for Orchard Hill just before the end of the chukker.

“That game was not easy. They were super tough!” exclaimed Orchard Hill captain Steve van Andel after the match. “They didn’t let up much. We finally had to start shooting from farther away and it worked, we pulled it out in the end.”

Orchard Hill will be fine-tuning their semifinal strategy this weekend while the quarterfinal teams battle it out on Sunday, March 15 at International Polo Club for the right to play them.

Audi Plays the Game Wide-Open
Defeats Las Monjitas 16-12

Audi defeated Las Monjitas 16-12 in bracket play for the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The match started out with Audi in the lead 1-0 due to handicap, but Las Monjitas did not let it ride for long. After shots by both teams went wide, Las Monjitas warmed up and got down to business. Camilo Bautista scored the first goal of the match on the field, tying the score briefly before Facundo Sola and Sebastian Merlos went on a scoring spree for the remainder of the chukker, ending it 4-1.

Merlos and Sola started out the second chukker in the same fashion, scoring two more goals within the first minutes. However, the tide began to turn as Marc Ganzi drove the ball up field for Rodrigo Andrade to tap in. A foul in the goalmouth had Audi awarded a penalty one, and Fred Mannix hit a backshot for Gonzalito Pieres that brought Audi within three points of Las Monjitas.

Audi took advantage of the situation and took the bull by the horns, rapidly scoring two more goals to make the score 6-5. Another foul in the goalmouth resulted in a second penalty one for Audi, and Mannix sealed the second goal with a backshot Audi to take the lead 7-6. Two more penalty conversions before the end of the second chukker put Audi firmly in the lead 9-6 going into the third chukker.

Both teams fought valiantly to score in the third chukker, but shot after shot went wide in what seemed like a wide streak of la mala leche, or bad luck. Pieres managed to make one penalty conversion before the half, increasing Audi’s lead to 10-6 at halftime. Las Monjitas rallied with a penalty conversion to start off the fourth chukker, but Pieres drove in an answering conversion to maintain Audi’s four-goal lead.

Las Monjitas continued to chip away at Audi’s lead, with Audi responding with goals of their own. The chukker ended 12-9. Merlos tapped in a goal while evading defenders to bring his team within two at the beginning of the fifth chukker. Pieres racked up another penalty conversion, and Andrade made the shot of the game, taking the ball from Audi’s backfield all the way down field and sinking a cut shot from 70 yards out. Ganzi drilled in a goal on the run to end the fifth chukker 15-10.

The sixth chukker started similarly to the third with wide shots on both sides, but Andrade delivered the knockout punch with a breakaway goal to put one up on the scoreboard for Audi. Bautista charged down the field and tapped a goal in for Las Monjitas to make the score 16-11. A final safety penalty conversion by Merlos ended the match 16-12.

Audi patron Ganzi credited his team’s strategy for their success.

“That was a tough team we beat today,” said Ganzi. “They play a very specific brand of polo and it’s very effective. We spent the first chukker looking at them and looking at the ball. We weren’t looking at the man. Once we spread them, we could cut the angles. If you can spread all four guys out, you create space and you have openings.”

Pieres felt that the time between this game and the semi-finals was a welcome relief for everyone.

“I think it will be good for [the horses] to rest this weekend because we have been playing Thursday through Sunday,” said Pieres. “It will be good for everybody – and the horses too.

Lechuza and Valiente Take Advantage of a Second Chance to Advance to USPA Piaget Gold Cup Quarterfinals

Sharpshooters Nico Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso were perfect and nearly perfect from the penalty line to advance their teams through the penalty shootout tiebreaker to the USPA Piaget Gold Cup quarterfinals.

By virtue of the 1-2 tie in Bracket II in which all three teams had beaten each other, Coca-Cola, Lechuza Caracas and Valiente found themselves settling the tie with penalties. Earlier in the day, Lechuza suffered a heartbreaking loss at the last second to Orchard Hill, while Valiente edged out Coca-Cola in the last chukker to get their first win of the tournament and arrive at the shootout. The winner and runner-up of the shootout advances to the quarterfinals, with the winner playing a lower ranked team from the other bracket. The third place team does not advance. Each team sent their best penalty shooter to shoot penalties and face the pressure.

Nico Pieres began, followed by Adolfo Cambiaso, then Julio Arellano. Players shoot in the same order throughout the shootout. All three players nailed the initial penalty attempt from the 40 yards line.

The next step was penalty attempts from the 60 yards line. In a game, the 60-yard penalty four is defended, in a shootout tiebreaker it is not. Pieres split the goal posts on his attempt, Cambiaso followed with a successful conversion as well. Arellano walked up to the ball, concentrating hard, swung and the ball veered left of the goal. Pieres and Cambiaso breathed sighs of relief.

With Lechuza and Valiente qualified for the quarterfinals at this point, the pressure was reduced as Pieres and Cambiaso continued to shoot from the 60-yard line for bracket position. Both were supremely accurate through the next two shots. After Pieres’ fourth 60-yard attempt went straight through the goal, Cambiaso’s fourth 60-yard shot veered off course.

Nico Pieres found redemption for his Lechuza team in the tiebreaker after their loss earlier in the day to Orchard Hill. “We were unlucky against Orchard Hill, and we did not play a good game against Coca-Cola, but I think we deserve to be in these quarterfinals.” He was also perfect for the day, in both the game and the tiebreaker, on his penalty shots. “I have been practicing a lot the last week, because in the 20 goal I wasn’t hitting the penalties well. I have been practicing a lot with Milo and doing better,” referring to Milo Fernandez Araujo, the coach for Lechuza Caracas.

For the quarterfinals of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup Valiente plays Alegria at noon and Lechuza Caracas squares off against Las Monjitas at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 15 at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

LIBERTY CUP
The 18-goal Liberty Cup resumes Friday, March 13 at IPC.

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

Pieres Power Carries the Day for Orchard Hill

Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, Alejo Taranco, Polito Pieres, Facundo Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso. Photos: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 8, 2015 – Sunday was a cauldron of excitement at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), with four high-stakes matches in the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup. Audi defeated Engel & Völkers 11-7; Alegria was victorious over Las Monjitas 9-8, and Coca-Cola clinched a 10-8 win over Lechuza Caracas.

In the featured match on Engel & Völkers field, Orchard Hill pushed ahead of Valiente to win 14-12. Ezequiel Ferrario was named Most Valuable Player. The Best Playing Pony award went to Jackie, owned by Las Machitos. The horse carried Polito Pieres to his five goals in the pivotal fourth chukker. This was Orchard Hill’s second 26-goal tournament win on the Engel & Völkers field. The team was awarded the C. V. Whitney Cup one week ago.

If polo was a card game, and you knew the deck had a pair of Piereses and a Cambiaso in it, how would you play your hand?

That was the question of the day on Engel & Völkers field Sunday. The answer kept changing from chukker to chukker, as the three 10-goalers took turns being the wild card. (That includes Polito Pieres, who is rated 10 in Argentina and may be on the bullet train to the same destination in this country.)

Between the two of them, the Pieres cousins scored an astounding 13 goals for Orchard Hill, with the team’s other point made by patron Steve Van Andel. Valiente’s scoring was more evenly spread out, as often is the case. All four teammates made goals, with the most (four) courtesy of Adolfo Cambiaso.

Even though it held the Cambiaso card – and played it to its advantage – it soon became clear that for Valiente the game was going to be about containing Facundo Pieres. Cambiaso kept after him nonstop, escalating the pressure throughout the match. At times the game was as physical as it was mental, with an occasional smattering of whistles, bumps and vocalizations punctuating the play.

That came as no surprise to anyone, least of all Van Andel. “Whenever you have the best players in the world going against each other, it’s going to be a tough game – and it was,” he said. “These are all tough teams, but Valiente is super tough.”

Nonetheless, Orchard Hill kept its opponents at bay, with Valiente trailing by a point for the first two chukkers. Valiente perked up in the third, with Alejo Taranco putting on some serious hustle to make a goal. Cambiaso followed that up, tying the game at 6-all at the end of the first half.

As Polito Pieres noted, “It was a very tough first half. We were tied, and neither one of the teams wanted to lose.”

That came into hyper focus as the second half opened. The vibe was on the verge of pandemonium as the Piereses went on a communal scoring frenzy. Polito Pieres owned the fourth chukker just about outright, scoring four consecutive goals within the first two minutes and adding a fifth point after Facundo Pieres contributed one. It remained a purely Pieres chukker, with Valiente completely shut down from scoring and Orchard Hill doubling its lead to 12-6.

How did that happen?

“I really don’t know,” said Facundo Pieres, shaking his head in amazement. “We came into a good momentum in the fourth chukker. Polito was unbelievable! He scored four goals in a row. We won all the throw-ins.”

In Van Andel’s estimation, “That fourth chukker was something else! We got a couple of good breaks, and then once you get the momentum you keep going, so it worked out.”

The fifth chukker was almost a mirror image of the fourth. This time Orchard Hill was scoreless and Valiente was the shot-caller, making four goals to tighten the gap to 12-10. A field goal and a penalty point by each team in the sixth chukker brought the final score to 14-12 for Orchard Hill.

Bracket play in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup will resume Wednesday at IPC, with Alegria taking on Engel & Völkers.

Alegria Means Happiness with a Win over Las Monjitas

Alegria overcame a midgame lapse in concentration to outscore Las Monjitas three goals to one in the sixth chukker for the win 9-8 in the second round of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club. The win for Alegria equalized their record at 1-1 for the tournament.

Facundo Sola, Sterling Giannico, Camilo Bautista and Mariano Aguerre
Facundo Sola, Sterling Giannico, Camilo Bautista and Mariano Aguerre

Alegria lost their first round match in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup in a vocal game against Audi. Mariano Aguerre, who scored the game-winning goal today on a neck shot in the sixth chukker, was all smiles after the win. “We had a bad game against Audi; it is good to see that we are back on track. We enjoyed it today.”

Alegria started the match well, Hilario Ulloa scored with a run dribbling the ball between defenders from midfield. Ulloa looked like a racecar driver weaving around highway cones as he made his way to goal between the neon orange-clad defenders. Aguerre added another goal on a broken play. Multiple players’ mallets shot in the air to appeal for the foul but Aguerre put his mallet down on the ball and scored. Las Monjitas scoreless throughout the first chukker, but Eduardo Novillo Astrada finally got a point on the board for the orange team when he muscled his way past the Alegria defender with a man on his hip trying fruitlessly to ride him off the ball. But despite some moments of brilliance, the first half produced few goals. Alegria led 4-2 at halftime.

Las Monjitas went on a scoring spree after the halftime break. Astrada gave his team a jolt with a high speed run to goal on a long legged gray mare. Facundo Sola kept the momentum flowing with two more field goals, supported by Camilo Bautista blocking out the defenders. Las Monjitas added a penalty two goal in the fourth for a 4-0 scoring run. At the conclusion of the fourth chukker Las Monjitas was in proud possession of a two- goal lead and the Alegria players were looking bewildered at the sudden turn in events.

Ulloa commented after the match, “We just fell asleep! We were playing really well the first half. I think we did a great job, but then in the fourth chukker we just fell asleep and they were scoring easy goals and winning the throw-ins.”

Alegria clawed their way back into contention in the fifth chukker and headed into the sixth chukker only down by one goal with Las Monjitas leading 7-6.

With their backs against the wall and facing elimination from the tournament if they lost, Alegria found a spark with a goal by Julian Mannix, assisted by a pinpoint pass from Sterling Giannico. Giannico added another goal to give Alegria the lead at 8-7. With plenty of time left in the chukker, Aguerre solidified the win by adding another goal, a smart move from the Alegria field general as Las Monjitas was awarded a penalty two at the end of the chukker. Final score was 9-8 in favor of Alegria.

Alegria faces Engel & Völkers in the third round, do or die Piaget Gold Cup match for both teams on Wednesday, March 11 at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Audi Takes the Wheel
Defeats Engel & Völkers 11-7

Audi defeated Engel & Völkers 11-7 in bracket play for the Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Engel & Völkers leapt into action right from the start and Kris Kampsen scored first goal of the game with lightening accuracy. Fred Mannix quickly responded by running in a goal for Audi, setting the tone early for Audi’s fast-paced play. Both teams were evenly matched, riding hard and showcasing the speed and athleticism of their mounts.

In the second chukker, Audi took control of the match, with back-to-back goals scored by Rodrigo Andrade and Gonzalito Pieres. Pieres proved to be lethal from the penalty line, converting sequential penalty shots to confirm Audi’s lead 5-1. Mannix rocketed out of the bowl-in to score the final goal of the chukker 6-1.

After several wide goal attempts by Mariano Gracida (substituting for Jared Zenni), Santi Torres succeeded in gaining some ground by scoring with a cut shot through traffic. Then Kampsen surged into a breakaway to put Engel & Völkers three goals behind at the end of the end of the half.

Torres took advantage of broken play by Audi to drive a goal in and make the score 6-4. The game slowed down at this point, with players in close contact and fighting for position on every play. Kampsen began the fifth chukker strongly, adding another goal to Engel & Völkers’ tally and placed the team within striking distance at 6-5. But Pieres converted with a lofted neck shot, and Audi pulled away from Engel & Völkers with a two-goal lead.

Andrade made what was undoubtedly the shot of the game, a giant lofted neck shot to goal that brought the score to 8-5. From there, Audi simply dominated the game, scoring three unanswered goals to cement their lead 11-5. Matias Magrini tapped a goal in, and Carlitos Gracida made the final goal of the game to end the sixth chukker 11-7.

Mannix felt that Audi’s horsepower has played a large part in their success this season.

“I’ve got some super horses here this year, so it’s making a huge difference,” Mannix said. “All the players on this team do. If you look at the way Gonzalito [Pieres] is mounted, and Marc [Ganzi] is mounted very well, and Rodrigo [Andrade] is a beast – he’s got some very powerful, strong horses. I think the combination of everything together allows us to play in a way we want to play. We’re not feeling any external pressure how we should or shouldn’t play. It’s more like how we want to play.”

Audi patron Marc Ganzi is already looking ahead to Thursday, March 12 when Audi will go head to head with Las Monjitas at 10 a.m. at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

“We’ll watch some video tonight and see what we did right and what we did wrong,” said Ganzi. “Then we’ll practice probably on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then we’ll have a practice team, FlexJet, who’ll sort of mimic what Las Monjitas is going to do. We’ll watch a little video on Wednesday night and get ready for a big game on Thursday. It’s a big game. If we win it, we win the bracket and we get to take next weekend off, which will be good for the horses.”

Coca-Cola defeated Lechuza Caracas in bracket play for the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Coca-Cola scored right away, with a conversion by Julio Arellano. With lightning speed and accuracy, Gillian Johnston accelerated into a breakaway and shot a pass to Pelon Sterling, who sent it to Sugar Erskine. Erskine drove it in to pull Coca-Cola ahead of Lechuza Caracas 2-0. A penalty conversion by Juan Martin Nero put Lechuza Caracas into contender status. Arellano took charge and scored his second goal of the match, making the score 3-1 at the end of the first chukker.

Johnston took off flat-out from the bowl-in, scoring again for Coca-Cola. Agustin Garcia Grossi dodged defenders to begin closing the gap 4-2. Sterling hit a strong backshot to Erskine, who sealed the deal with a neck shot. Victor Vargas scored his first goal of the game, swiftly pulling Lechuza Caracas along to make the score 5-3. Sterling hit a penalty five from the point of the infraction, shooting a pass to Arellano, who maneuvered through traffic to score. Garcia Grossi ran the ball into the goal mouth to score the last point of the second chukker and make the score 6-4.

The third chukker was a battle of wills, with both teams making numerous wide attempts on goal. A challenge by Coca-Cola on ball placement awarded resulted in a penalty four, which Arellano converted with a lofted shot to make the score 7-4. Arellano continued his streak from the penalty line in the fourth chukker, trotting up to take the penalty shot and doubling Coca-Cola’s lead to 8-4. Garcia Grossi followed up his cutshot by tapping the ball in to chip away for Lechuza Caracas.

Nico Pieres followed up Garcia Grossi’s efforts with a penalty conversion, walking up to the ball in his signature style. Garcia Grossi once again put the ball through the uprights in traffic, ending the fourth chukker 8-7. Coca-Cola came out guns blazing in the fifth chukker, with every member of the team touching the ball before Erskine put it into the goal. Erskine won the bowl-in and made a beautiful run down field to score, with Johnston assisting by taking out the defender.

Nero took advantage of a Coca-Cola miscue, shooting a pass to Vargas, who drove it in for a goal. The sixth chukker was fraught with big runs and goal attempts, but no points were scored. Coca-Cola ultimately got the better of Lechuza Caracas, and the match ended 10-8.

Erskine said he considered the game a close call but said it still had the element of fun that Coca-Cola’s play is known for. “We had fun, and obviously it was close enough to where it could have gone either way,” he said.

Arellano attributed Coca-Cola’s success to solid teamwork by each of its players. “Everybody played really, really well, especially Sugar,” he said. “He came out and played great defense today right off the bat, and that was key. Everybody else did their part, and did what they were supposed to do.”

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

Orchard Hill Harvests Another 26-Goal Win

Sugar Erskine and Polito Pieres. Photo: Liz Lamont Images/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 5, 2015 – The second leg of the 2015 Triple Crown of polo took off in full force Thursday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which hosted three of the day’s four matches. In opening day play for the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup, Orchard Hill defeated Coca-Cola 13-12 and Lechuza Caracas won over Valiente 14-13 (both in overtime). Las Monjitas defeated Engel & Völkers 18-8, and Audi took Alegria 16-13.

After its second consecutive 26-goal win of the season, Steve Van Andel burst into the Orchard Hill tent with big news for the team: “I got the penalty one, so I have to buy dinner tonight!”

Facundo Pieres lobbed a quick comeback: “And I get to pick the place!”

Van Andel, erupting in laughter, surely would have granted Pieres three wishes if he had a genie in a bottle. Who wouldn’t for a teammate who had just scored 10 goals, including the overtime punch that won the match?

The first two chukkers offered not even an inkling that the game would go down to the wire. Other than two points by 10-goaler Pelon Sterling, Coca-Cola was hard-pressed to muster an offense. Orchard Hill ran its opponents ragged for a sustained stretch, making six goals (four of them courtesy of Pieres).

Coca-Cola regrouped and went all-out with its defense. Suddenly it seemed that Sterling had devoted his life to pressuring one Pieres or another (cousins Facundo and Polito Pieres both played for Orchard Hill). Sterling had ample opportunity to do so, as most of the time a Pieres was either running the ball down the field or passing it to his counterpart. As the point spread widened, Sterling ratcheted up the ante. In the middle of the second chukker he tried to fend a determined Polito Pieres off the ball, engaging him in mallet play so intense that announcer Gus Whitelaw quipped, “It sounds like a sword fight out there!” The winner of the duel was Pieres & Co., with Polito Pieres pulling off a tag-team pass to Facundo Pieres, who scored.

A seismic shift happened in the third chukker. With Sterling leading the charge, Coca-Cola decided to make it a contest. In a blaze of red (jerseys, saddle pads and leg wraps), the team racked up three goals and was awarded a fourth as an automatic goal, all the while keeping Orchard Hill scoreless. By the end of the first half, Coca-Cola had gone from trailing by four points to tying the game (6-6). That set the tone for the rest of the match, with Coca-Cola remaining revved on both defense and offense.

Orchard Hill systematically slid back into scoring mode. As Van Andel explained, “Coca-Cola played man-to-man really well, and we had a couple of bad breaks. After that it takes a little while to get your momentum back, and that’s what happened.”

The second half played out like a clip from “Groundhog Day,” with the score ping-ponging from tied to a one- or two-point lead and then back to a tie. The last three chukkers were almost indistinguishable from one another. Each chukker ended in a tie (8-all at the end of the fourth chukker; 9 after the fifth and 12 at the end of the sixth). Both teams scored twice in the fourth (a field goal and a penalty) and three times in the sixth (two field goals and a penalty). Each got a point in the fifth, with Polito Pieres scoring from the field and Coca-Cola being awarded another automatic goal.

Parallels aside, the second half was fraught with nail-biting moments, regardless which team one was rooting for. The sidelines were electric as Gillian Johnston accelerated into going-going-gone on one of her gray speed sticks. Taking a pass from Julio Arellano, she opened her horse up, moving light years ahead of the pack to run the ball into goal. Arellano, meanwhile, took over the Facundo-Polito watch from Sterling, trying mightily to shut down any Pieres passing.

A fired-up Sugar Erskine kept Coca-Cola in the game to the very end. With less than two minutes left in the sixth chukker, he tied the score at 12, where it stood at the end of regulation play. Coca-Cola saw a glimmer of hope when Facundo Pieres’s first shot on goal in overtime went wide, but he didn’t let that stand for long. A whistle on an Erskine play handed the game to back to Orchard Hill, with Facundo Pieres scoring from the line.

The victory was frosting on this season’s winning streak by Orchard Hill, which won the 20-goal Joe Barry Cup in January and clinched the 26-goal C. V. Whitney Cup last Sunday. As Facundo Pieres observed, four days is a very short time between two 26-goal games.

“It’s always hard (playing) the first game of a tournament after winning a tournament,” he said. “It’s hard for everybody to come back. When you win a tournament you’re happy, and sometimes you need a little bit of rest for the horses.” On top of that, he said, Coca-Cola is always a formidable opponent. “We knew this was going to be a tough game, and it was. I think under all those circumstances, we did pretty good beating them.”

Lechuza Caracas Defeats Valiente in Epic Overtime Finish

Lechuza Caracas had the benefit of a little luck and a lot of skill to defeat defending champion Valiente 14-13 in a thrilling sudden death overtime finish in the first round of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup, hosted by the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

“That was a tough game. Both teams played very well,” said a jubilant but exhausted Juan Martin Nero after the match. “We were lucky that Nico made the penalty four (to tie the match at 13-all) and then in the extra chukker I got lucky, very lucky!”

Ten-goaler Nero created his own luck throughout the match, most importantly in the sudden death overtime period when he sent the game-winning goal soaring over the heads of the Valiente defenders from nearly 80 yards out from goal.

The game was spectacular from start to finish. Agustin Garcia Grossi started the scoring off with a beautiful back shot that centered the ball on the goal line for teammate Nico Pieres to tap in. The first half was fast and flowing on the Lechuza Caracas field. The umpires were diligent in calling delay of game penalties when players tapped the ball too often in attempts to slow down the pace, which encouraged the teams to hit passes to teammates and open up the game. As a consequence, almost all the goals in the first half came from the field.

Despite the home field advantage, Lechuza trailed Valiente by a goal heading into halftime. Valiente enjoyed a 6-5 lead behind the hot stick of Guillermo Terrera, who had four first-half goals

Pieres quickly equalized the score after halftime on a neck shot. From then on it was a neck-and-neck race to the finish, with neither team yielding more than a one-goal lead to the other. Both patrons contributed to the scoring in the fifth. First Victor Vargas hit a strong cutshot to goal on the north end, and then Bob Jornayvaz retaliated by following up Adolfo Cambiaso for a goal shot. The teams battled to an even score of 10-all at the end of the fifth chukker.

Cambiaso came out in the sixth on a mission to make things happen. He controlled the play at the boards, and then muscled by the defenders on a speedy horse to send a neckshot to goal. Lechuza countered with a pair of goals from Pieres, only to see Terrara win the subsequent lineup and immediately run to goal to tie the score again at 12-12. With just over a minute remaining, Lechuza fouled and Valiente was awarded a penalty five from midfield. Cambiaso marshaled his troops, gave them their instructions and marched the ball downfield. Nero made the hook on Cambiaso, but Jornayvaz was perfectly positioned to stroke the ball though the goal and give Valiente the lead, 13-12.

As the teams rode back to the lineup, a few spectators started to leave, thinking the game was essentially over. But then disaster struck for Valiente. A costly foul in the bowl-in by the team in blue resulted in a penalty awarded in favor of Lechuza with just seven seconds remaining before the warning horn. The ball was first placed on the center line for a penalty five, but Lechuza challenged. Based on the instant replay, the ball was moved up to the 60-yard line for a penalty four. Pieres walked his horse up to the ball, as calm as if he was practicing on his own farm in Argentina, and sent the ball high and straight through the goal posts to send the game into overtime.

Cambiaso won the first bowl-in of the overtime period, but as he ran to goal the ball took a bad bounce and was backed away by a Lechuza defender. Pieres took possession of the ball and arrowed a pass to Nero. Nero broke the hearts of the Valiente players as he sent a perfect shot to goal to win the match 14-13 for Lechuza.

Instant replay was crucial in the match, especially on the last call for Lechuza that resulted in a penalty four for the team. “That was the first challenge we ever won!” said Nero.

Pieres played a strong game for Lechuza, scoring a game high of 10 goals and sending it into overtime on the key penalty four conversion. What thoughts were running through his mind as he rode his horse up to the ball for the final penalty shot? “I knew I had to put that one in because if not, I had to give a barbecue to Flaco!” he said, referring to teammate Grossi.

Lechuza and Valiente next play on Sunday in the second round of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at IPC.

Las Monjitas Wins with Authority
Defeats Engel & Völkers 18-8

Las Monjitas defeated Engel & Völkers 18-8 in bracket play in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

The match started off with Engel & Völkers in the lead by two points due to their handicap. It quickly took the initiative to increase that lead with Kris Kampsen scoring the first goal on the field from the bowl-in. Kampsen continued to increase the Engel & Völkers lead by converting a penalty shot later in the chukker. Facundo Sola promptly went to work closing the gap, scoring three goals by the end of the first chukker to make the score 4-3.

For the rest of the half, Las Monjitas held a commanding lead. Combining an excellent passing game with an uncanny ability to read plays, Sebastian Merlos racked up four goals. Eduardo Astrada and Sola each scored once, with both frequently assisting Merlos on the way to the goal mouth. Engel & Völkers fought valiantly as Las Monjitas’s lead grew. A major defensive effort by his teammates allowed Matias Magrini to drive in a goal during the second chukker. The first half ended 9-5 in favor of Las Monjitas.

Las Monjitas continued its dominance in the fourth chukker. Astrada scored on an assist from Camilo Bautista, and Sola demonstrated his skill from the penalty line to make the score 11-5. Astrada made what was undoubtedly the play of the game, dribbling the ball on bounces before driving it in to goal. An aggressive defensive play by Jared Zenni helped Santi Torres thread the needle to put another point on the scoreboard for Engel & Völkers, making the score 14-6. Torres again wove through traffic for Kampsen to tap the ball through the uprights, ending the fifth chukker 15-7.

Torres made an impressive trick play to start out the sixth chukker, hitting the ball under the belly of the defender’s horse as he dodged around him and drove in a goal. Merlos ran the ball in to score, and Astrada added two more goals to his tally by the end of the chukker. Ultimately Las Monjitas sewed up the game 18-8.

Merlos credited his team’s strategy and increased time playing together for its success.

“It was a very tough beginning. We knew they were going to be very alert and ready, so it was very important to win the ball at the throw-ins,” said Merlos. “Our horses went great, and I think we took advantage of that. I’m very comfortable with the team. We are starting to know each other. Obviously we always need to fix little mistakes, but since our first match we are a much better team.”

Audi Calls the Shots, Defeats Alegria Assist Card 16-13

Audi defeated Alegria Assist Card 16-13 in bracket play in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The match took off to a running start with Fred Mannix exploding into a gallop out of the throw-in to drive in a goal and make the score 2-0 (with Audi’s one-goal handicap). Gonzalito Pieres demonstrated his penalty shooting prowess by sinking two shots in a row. Alegria Assist Card fired back with three goals, narrowing Audi’s lead to one point. Pieres and Rodrigo Andrade added more goals to Audi’s tally, ending the first chukker 6-3 for Audi.

Alegria Assist Card was “snake-bit,” as announcer Toby Wayman called it, in the second chukker with several penalty shots going wide. Andrade drove a long pass downfield for Marc Ganzi, who finished the job and made the score 7-3. Fred Mannix flipped another goal in for Audi. The rest of the chukker proved thrilling as both teams fought to assert dominance in ride-off after ride-off at a wide-open pace.

Pieres continued his hot streak from the penalty line, racking up three more conversions in the third chukker. Alegria Assist Card gained two goals from the field, making the score 11-6 at the half. In the fourth chukker Pieres was the driving force for the Audi team, completing a penalty conversion and assisting Andrade on a goal to make the score 13-6. Hilario Ulloa converted two penalty shots in the fourth and fifth chukkers to make some headway against Audi’s lead.

Andrade picked up a goal as the fifth chukker continued to showcase the athleticism of horses and players in high-octane ride-offs. Julian Mannix made a remarkable play, picking up Ganzi’s backshot to score for Alegria Assist Card. Andrade shot an impressive cut shot to end the chukker 15-9.

Alegria Assist Card was awarded a penalty one to make the score 15-10 in the sixth chukker. Julian Mannix led the charge in the Alegria Assist Card comeback, converting to bring his team within three points of Audi. Ulloa dodged defenders to drive the ball in for a goal. Andrade made the final goal of the match off the goal post to end the chukker 16-13.

Ganzi said he felt his team’s strategy going into the match paid off in its success. “We had a really outstanding first half, and we set the tone early. We were prepared to match their physicality, and I think they were surprised by that,” said Ganzi. “We’re not really known as a physical team, and today we were extremely physical. They’re such a good team, and we have a lot of respect for them.”

Pieres concurred with regard to strategy. “We knew it was really important for us to win this game, and we came with a good strategy,” he said. “I think we won this game in the first five chukkers.”

Play continues Sunday at IPC at 10 a.m., with Alegria Assist Card taking on Las Monjitas and Audi playing Engel & Völkers. Coca-Cola will battle it out with Lechuza Caracas at noon, and Orchard Hill will take on Valiente in what promises to be a spectacular feature match at 3 p.m.

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

Piaget Makeshift Lineup Nearly Knocks Off ERG; Now Preparing Horses for U.S. Open

Piaget’s Juan Bollini goes for the big hit downfield with ERG defenders bearing down. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 18, 2013 — With one of its 10-goalers, Sapo Caset, home in bed with the flu, Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi and coach Joey Casey put together a lineup that nearly knocked off ERG.

Ganzi sat out the game to enable 5-goalers Juan Bollini and Lucas Lalor to make up for Caset’s 10-goal rating. The team newcomers joined the remaining Piaget lineup, 10-goaler Miguel Astrada and Nacho Badiola.

The team needed the first half to jell, but once the foursome got the chemistry going, the USPA Piaget Gold Cup main stadium contest at International Polo Club Palm Beach turned into a game.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget lost a hardfought 7-6 decision to ERG, in one of five USPA Piaget Gold Cup games on Sunday. It was both teams’ final 11-team tournament appearance.

ERG will compete in Thursday’s Butler Handicap Tournament semifinals that also features Grand Champions Polo Club made Audi.

Piaget got balanced scoring. Lalor and Badiola each had two goals. Astrada and Bollini each scored one. Tincho Merlos scored a game-high four goals for ERG.

Piaget is now looking ahead to the Maserati U.S. Open that begins Thursday, March 28th at IPC.

“This was more of a game to get the horses ready for the Open,” Casey said. “We were just trying to conserve horses to move on to the Open.

Piaget's Lucas Lalor about to bring the ball downfield to his teammates
Piaget’s Lucas Lalor about to bring the ball downfield to his teammates

“Play, but if you feel a horse get tired, get off; don’t wait for the right time; go ahead and get off,” Casey said.

“We could have won it,” Casey said. “We changed horses a few times which normally we wouldn’t have done. That probably cost us a goal or two. We are looking at the big picture now.”

Badiola, at 23 and making his IPC high goal debut this season, was outstanding on defense turning in one of his better games of the tournament. “He is playing well,” Casey agreed.

In another Sunday game, Audi lost a 16-10 decision to Zacara. The game marked the return of Audi team captain Marc Ganzi, sidelined for three games nursing a broken thumb and knee injury.

The victory earned Zacara (3-0), one of only three undefeated teams remaining, a berth in Wednesday’s semifinals, joining Lechuza Caracas (3-0), Alegria (2-1) and defending champion Valiente (3-0).

In Wednesday’s semifinals, Lechuza Caracas plays Zacara at 2 p.m. and Valiente will meet Alegria at 4 p.m. The winners advance to Sunday’s championship for the second jewel of U.S. polo’s Triple Crown.

In the other three Sunday games, Lechuza Caracas defeated Orchard Hill, 13-11; Zorzal beat Coca-Cola, 12-11, in overtime and Alegria topped Mt. Brilliant, 7-5.

Alegria earned its berth into the semifinals in a shootout after the main stadium game. Alegria won its first shootout with Zorzal, 7-6, to advance into the semifinal qualifier shootout.

Alegria and ERG then tied in the first round of the semifinal qualifier shootout, 4-4. Alegria won in sudden death when Julian Mannix scored the winning shot.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

Thursday, March 21: Butler Handicap Semifinal, Audi vs. TBA, noon.

Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.

March 28 – April 21: 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

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

Audi Eliminated in USPA Piaget Gold Cup, Will Play Butler Handicap Cup on Thursday

Audi 8-goaler Nico Pieres goes for the neck shot. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 18, 2013 — Audi played well against Zacara, but not well enough to remain alive in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

The Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi, down by five goals early in the game, roared back to tie the game only to lose, 16-10, in one of five USPA Piaget Gold Cup games Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

It was Audi’s second loss of the 11-team tournament, finishing 2-2 in its bracket.

Audi defeated Zorzal and C. V. Whitney champion Alegria during the tournament. Other bracket members Mt. Brilliant and Coca Cola finished winless at 0-4.

Audi will compete in the subsidiary Butler Handicap Cap semifinals on Thursday against an opponent still to be announced. The game is scheduled for noon. The final is Sunday.

Team captain Marc Ganzi returned to the Audi lineup after missing three games nursing a broken thumb and knee injury.

Audi team captain Marc Ganzi returns to the lineup after missing three games nursing a broken thumb
Audi team captain Marc Ganzi returns to the lineup after missing three games nursing a broken thumb

“It was just a series of unfortunate events in the game,” Ganzi said. “Once again it’s the second game in a row where we felt like we played really well from the field.

“We outshot the other team and statistically our time of possession and throw-ins were in our favor but the scoreboard wasn’t in our favor again. It continues to be a little frustrating.

“We played a good tournament,” Ganzi said. “There’s nothing to be ashamed about with our performance. From the field we are playing pretty good polo. We have a couple of things to fix in terms of our heads a little bit and get our heads focused on polo and not worry about the third parties that can affect the game.”

Ganzi played well despite still nursing injuries.

“It feels great to be back,” Ganzi said. “I’m not 100 percent but I’m on the field trying to help my team as much as possible. It felt pretty good out there. I made some good plays and made maybe one or two dumb plays.”

Audi fell behind early. Zacara outscored them in the opening two chukkers, 6-2, and were trailing 7-2 early in the third chukker before Audi started chipping away at the lead.

Audi’s Nico Pieres scored four goals, all on penalty shots in the third and fourth chukkers. Jeff Hall tied the game at 8-8 with 3:11 left in the fourth chukker enabling Audi to outscore Zacara, 3-0, in the fourth.

“At that moment we were not that good, mistakes and penalties, and they were playing well,” said Zacara’s Facundo Pieres, playing against his brothers Gonzalito and Nico, all former teammates with Ganzi on the 2009 U.S. Open champion team. Pieres scored a game-high eight goals.

“I think because we were winning so good we started making mistakes and they started coming back,” Pieres said.

Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea injured his hip in the fourth chukker and was replaced by 14-year-old Matias Gonzalez, a Polo Park Middle School eighth grader.

“My leg got caught and got pulled backwards,” Lea said. “I tried to get back on but I couldn’t ride or use the right side of my body so I couldn’t stop the horse.”

The 20-minute injury timeout seemed to stall Audi’s momentum and rhythm in the fifth chukker when Zacara regained its composure and outscored them 5-1.

“It’s unfortunate that Lyndon got hurt,” Ganzi said. “He tried to play again and couldn’t come back. That was bad luck. Lyndon is a fierce competitor and friend. You never want to see a friend not be able to finish a game.

Nico Pieres hits the ball in mid-air on a neck shot to his brother Gonzalito Pieres
Nico Pieres hits the ball in mid-air on a neck shot to his brother Gonzalito Pieres

“We had a 20-minute wait. I think it hurt a little bit. Sitting on the side for an extended period doesn’t really help the team that much. We had a bit of bad luck in the fifth; we missed a couple of goals and made a couple of goals. We had a very, very tough call at the end of the fifth chukker that was very frustrating.

“Two of their players collide and our guy is coming from behind and has the line. I don’t understand how it’s not a foul so it’s a bit frustrating. Our guy is going the other way and it’s a chance for us to get the game back to within two goals going into the sixth. But instead your focus in the sixth chukker is thinking whether or not you have the line. You are very tentative and frustrated. The game got out of hand for us.”

“We knew as soon as we did a couple of things good that we had our chances,” Pieres said. “It is a huge win because we are in the semifinals and this is what we wanted. I think we had three good games except for one chukker in this game.

“It’s always hard to play against my brothers, not because they are good players but because they are my brothers,” Pieres added.

The victory earned Zacara (3-0), one of only three undefeated teams remaining, a berth in Wednesday’s semifinals, joining Lechuza Caracas (3-0), Alegria (2-1) and defending champion Valiente (3-0).

In Wednesday’s semifinals, Lechuza Caracas plays Zacara at 2 p.m. and Valiente will meet Alegria at 4 p.m. The winners advance to Sunday’s championship for the second jewel of U.S. polo’s Triple Crown.

“I am delighted that we won,” Lea said. “The team is playing well. Audi is a very good team. We have some moments where we go blank but the team when it’s playing well can beat anybody.”

Added Ganzi: “They are a good team. Mike Azzaro is playing well above his handicap and with confidence. That team has a ton of confidence.”

It was the second time during the 26-goal season a team called upon a teenager to sub for an injured player. Wellington High senior Juancito Bollini played three games for Ganzi.

“Hopefully, organizations like Zacara will give young players like Matias and Juancito and a ton of good kids coming up in Wellington the chance to play,” Ganzi said. “It’s the only way these guys are going to get good.”

In the other four Sunday games, ERG edged Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget, 7-6, in the main stadium game; Lechuza Caracas defeated Orchard Hill, 13-11; Zorzal beat Coca-Cola, 12-11, in overtime and Alegria topped Mt. Brilliant, 7-5.

Alegria earned its berth into the semifinals in a shootout after the main stadium game. Alegria won its first shootout with Zorzal, 7-6, to advance into the semifinal qualifier shootout.

Alegria and ERG then tied in the first round of the semifinal qualifier shootout, 4-4. Alegria won in sudden death when Julian Mannix scored the winning shot.

BUTLER HANDICAP AUDI SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 21: Semifinal, Audi vs. TBA, noon; Maserati U.S. Open draw.

Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.

Thursday, March 28: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

March 28 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

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

Valiente Knocks Off Audi, 10-7, for First USPA Piaget Gold Cup Loss

Audi’s Jeff Hall tries to ride off Valiente’s Santi Torres for the ball. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 15, 2013 — Audi, not playing on all cylinders as it did when it knocked off C. V. Whitney Cup champion Alegria, suffered a 10-7 loss to Valiente in one of five USPA Piaget Gold Cup games Thursday in front of a packed field at windswept International Polo Club Palm Beach.

It was one of the biggest games of the high-goal polo season featuring 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling of Valiente and Gonzalito Pieres of Audi.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi committed several unforced errors, including missed penalty shots and scoring opportunities, and was never in sync for most of the game.

Audi managed to outshoot Valiente, 20-15, but missed 13 shots including eight shots at goal and five on penalty shot attempts.

It was Audi’s first loss of the 11-team tournament, falling to 2-1 in its bracket. Other bracket members Mt. Brilliant and Coca Cola remain winless at 0-3.

The game was penalty-marred as Audi players lost their cool as the game progressed and were assessed four red cards.

With a lack of field team leadership and fire, the absence of team captain Marc Ganzi, nursing a broken thumb and knee injury, was never more evident.

Ganzi was replaced by 16-year-old Wellington High senior Juancito Bollini, competing in his third 26-goal game ever. While Bollini held his own, his lack of experience against more savvy players took its toll and Valiente took advantage.

Audi's Nico Pieres goes for the neck shot against Valiente
Audi’s Nico Pieres goes for the neck shot against Valiente

“It was a bad start and there was confusion in the way they took their men as they were supposed to,” said Juan Bollini, a former eight-goaler and player-coach for Piaget and co-manager of Grand Champions.

“There were a few calls that made a few changes in the game,” said Bollini, who watched the game with Piaget team-captain Melissa Ganzi and her Piaget teammates. “It wasn’t a good day today. It is hard to play against Cambiaso; he has been the best player in the world for the last 20 years. He is well-mounted and he uses everybody. You have to have your best day to beat Cambiaso.

“Audi still had a chance but one foul here, one foul there and the penalties that they missed and Audi is right back in the game,” Bollini said.

Added Bollini about his son, “I am very proud of Juancito. Today was not his best game. He was kind of lost. He was not on today. But it was good, he will learn; he is 16 years old.”

Ganzi is expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s key game against Lyndon Lea’s Zacara team. Audi has beaten Zorzal in overtime and Alegria in Gold Cup play.

In the Valiente game, Gonzalito Pieres was held to three goals, which was a team-high. Nico Pieres and Jeff Hall each had two goals.

Gonzalito Pieres tries to gain control of the ball
Gonzalito Pieres tries to gain control of the ball

Santi Torres led Valiente scoring with six goals, five on penalty shots. Cambiaso had three goals and Stirling added one goal.

Grand Champions Polo Club-based other pro team, Piaget, had a tough day too, losing to Orchard Hill, 12-7, to drop to 0-2 in its bracket.

In other Thursday games at IPC, Alegria defeated Coca-Cola, 11-10, in overtime; Lechuza Caracas edged ERG, 9-6; and Zorzal routed Mt. Brilliant, 14-6.

Piaget will play next on Sunday in the IPC stadium marquis game at 3 p.m. against ERG. In the early game, Audi plays Zacara at 10 a.m.

First played in 1974, the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup has been played at various polo clubs until it found a home at IPC in 2007.

When the USPA awarded IPC the Gold Cup in 2007, the International Polo Club Palm Beach, home of the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Tournament and U.S. Open Championship, sealed its place in history as host of all three legs of the Triple Crown.

Piaget is saluting IPC’s tenth anniversary with the launch of its new luxury Polo FortyFive Black watch which will join their successful collection of polo watches first introduced in the late 1970s.

USPA PIAGET GOLD CUP AUDI/PIAGET SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 17: Zacara vs. Audi, 10 a.m.; Piaget vs. ERG, 3 p.m., stadium game.

Wednesday, March 20: Piaget Gold Cup Semifinals, 2, 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 21: Butler Handicap Semifinals, Gold Cup subsidiary, 10 a.m., noon

Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 26: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

March 7 – March 24, USPA Piaget Gold Cup

March 26 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

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

Orchard Hill Defeats Piaget, 12-7, in USPA Piaget Gold Cup

Piaget 10-goaler Miguel Astrada waiting on the ball while being defended by Orchard Hill’s Rodrigo Andrade. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 15, 2013 — Orchard Hill took Piaget out of its game plan for a 6-1 lead after two chukkers and went on to defeat Piaget, 12-7, in the first of five USPA Piaget Gold Cup games Thursday at Isla Carroll West.

It was a frustrating day for Piaget which tried to dig itself out of a hole in the second half, but ran out of chukkers.

Piaget 10-goaler Sapo Caset was held scoreless for five chukkers, scoring his one and only goal in the opening chukker on a penalty shot.

Piaget’s other 10-goaler, Miguel Astrada, led scoring with five goals, two on penalty shots.

Nacho Badiola added another goal. Badiola, 23, the son of former 9-goaler Juan Badiola, is making his IPC 26-goal debut this season.

Piaget's Nacho Badiola attacking the ball on a breakaway run
Piaget’s Nacho Badiola attacking the ball on a breakaway run

Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi turned back Orchard Hill team captain Steve Van Andel on two scoring attempts as one of the few highlights of the game.

It was Piaget’s second consecutive loss after losing 12-10 to Lechuza Caracas last Saturday. Orchard Hill evened its record to 1-1. At 2-0, Lechuza Caracas is the lone undefeated team in Piaget’s bracket. ERG is 1-1.

Trailing 9-2 after three chukkers, Piaget made a few adjustments at the half and came out swinging in the second half, tying Orchard Hill 1-1 in the fourth and outscoring them 2-1 in the final two chukkers.

“We were snakebit,” Piaget coach Joey Casey said. “We weren’t hitting well. The other team played much better the first half.

“We had a lot of bad luck,” Casey said. “To be honest, I don’t think anything went well today. Every ball that they hit in the air, they didn’t miss a ball all day.

“They have some good players but I have not seen those players play that well in a couple of years. They played phenomenal today. The way they played today they will beat anybody. We just had a bad day and just got to move on and get ready for the next one.”

Sapo Caset tries to control the ball on a run
Sapo Caset tries to control the ball on a run

Casey was pleased with Piaget’s turnaround in the second half.

“We changed some things around in the last half and that seemed to work so we are going to try and build on that for the U.S. Open,” Casey said.

Orchard Hill was led by a balanced attack. Matias MacDonough led with five goals followed by brother Pablo MacDonough with four goals, Rodrigo Andrade with two goals and Van Andel with one goal and the play of the day when he stripped Astrada of the ball.

“Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good,” Van Andel said. “I did not expect this kind of game; I was really worried because they are a tough team. Piaget did really well in their last game and I was worried.

“Our whole team played really well together,” Van Andel said. “The objective was to stick against your man and send the ball when we had a chance. We got everybody open and were able to pass it and that’s what helped.”

Grand Champions Polo Club-based other pro team, Audi, had a tough day too, losing to Valiente, 10-7, in a penalty-marred contest.

In other Thursday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach, Alegria defeated Coca-Cola, 11-10, in overtime; Lechuza Caracas edged ERG, 9-6; and Zorzal routed Mt. Brilliant, 14-6.

Piaget will play next on Sunday in the IPC stadium marquis game at 3 p.m. against ERG. In the early Sunday game, Audi plays Valiente at 10 a.m.

First played in 1974, the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup has been played at various polo clubs until it found a home at IPC in 2007.

When the USPA awarded IPC the Gold Cup in 2007, the International Polo Club Palm Beach, home of the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Tournament and U.S. Open Championship, sealed its place in history as host of all three legs of the Triple Crown.

Piaget is saluting IPC’s tenth anniversary with the launch of its new luxury Polo FortyFive Black watch which will join their successful collection of polo watches first introduced in the late 1970s.

USPA PIAGET GOLD CUP AUDI/PIAGET SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 17: Valiente vs. Audi, 10 a.m.; Piaget vs. ERG, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20: Piaget Gold Cup Semifinals, 2, 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 21: Butler Handicap Semifinals, Gold Cup subsidiary, 10 a.m., noon

Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 26: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

March 7 – March 24, USPA Piaget Gold Cup

March 26 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

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

Audi Remains Undefeated, Knocks Off Alegria In USPA Piaget Gold Cup

Gonzalito Pieres in perfect form hitting the ball downfield to teammate and younger brother Nico Pieres. Photos – Alex Pacheco.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 11, 2013 — Audi, finding its championship form, put on a winning display of polo Sunday with a 13-7 victory over Alegria in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The victory over the recently-crowned C. V. Whitney Cup champion was one of the most impressive of the 26-goal season for Audi and put them in contention to win the second jewel of U.S. polo’s Triple Crown.

For the second consecutive game, Audi team captain Marc Ganzi watched the game from the players’ tent. Ganzi, nursing a broken thumb and expected to return in two weeks, watched 16-year-old Juancito Bollini play well in his absence.

But it was 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres who showed his red-hot form with breakaway goals, Jeff Hall’s ball-hawking defense, Nico Pieres passing and steals and team’s lightning-quick ponies that enabled Audi to control the game.

“The team played great; everyone lined up well,” Ganzi said. “It was a great, great team effort today. You see Jeff Hall doing all the little details, taking the man, hitting the back-handers. He was my MVP today by far. The toughness he brought to the field today is the mentality we need going forward.

Audi's Gonzalito Pieres leaning out of the saddle and reaching back to keep possession of the ball with Alegria's Mariano Aguerre trying to defend his brother-in-law
Audi’s Gonzalito Pieres leaning out of the saddle and reaching back to keep possession of the ball with Alegria’s Mariano Aguerre trying to defend his brother-in-law

“We always keep talking about this but it’s the little details that change the game and Jeff took care of all the details today. We have six weeks left in the season and we would love to win this tournament; it would be great for us.”

“We have a good team,” Gonzalito Pieres said, “but we have two of the tougher teams (Zacara and Valiente) coming up.”

Audi dominated the game from wire-to-wire, outscoring Alegria, 4-1, in the opening chukker, 4-2 in the third chukker, and holding them scoreless in the final two chukkers.

“They are a really good team, obviously; they won the first tournament,” said Hall, one of the highest ranked American players. “We came up with a good game plan. With our positions changing, our playing is getting better.

“All the teams are good; we just have to play hard and stay focused,” Hall said. “They are the same horses; maybe they are getting better. This was a really good win; it’s great for us and the confidence of the team.”

Gonzalito Pieres scored eight goals including five penalty shots. Hall and Bollini had two goals and Nico Pieres had one. Julian Mannix, Facundo Obregon and Aguerre each scored two goals and Hillario Ulloa, who was hit in the face with a mallet during the game, added one goal.

“We played and beat a really good team today,” said Gonzalito Pieres, who played against his brother-in-law and 9-goaler Mariano Aguerre.

“Today was quite different; it’s always good to play a team that just came from winning and had a week off,” Pieres said. “We all played really consistent. Jeff was really strong in the back, Nico forward and Juancito did a really good job.

Audi's Jeff Hall, one of America's top-ranked players, turned in his best game of the 26-goal season with ball-hawking plays like this
Audi’s Jeff Hall, one of America’s top-ranked players, turned in his best game of the 26-goal season with ball-hawking plays like this

“Today was really good. Every time that we hit a back shot we turned it into an attack and an offensive play. I was quite happy with that. Our horses were very good; hopefully they are hitting their peak. I still have a few I am saving that are on their way up.”

Audi was coming off an exciting 8-7 victory over Zorzal in sudden death. Alegria was coming off a week’s rest.

“This was a very important game today because now we just have to win one of our next two games and we are in,” said Nico Pieres. “The horses were really good and we were a four-man team. Hopefully, the team is coming together at the right time. We have two more games to see.”

Bollini, a Wellington High School senior playing only his second 26-goal game after playing 12-goal tournaments, looked more composed and poised against Alegria. He also scored his first goals of his 26-goal tournament debut.

“The horses are amazing; it just makes everything easier,” Bollini said. “It was a lot of fun today; I was less nervous than the first game. I felt more comfortable. I came in with a bit more confidence. This is exciting. I have never played this. I like the speed that they go. Thanks to Marc letting me play; I had a lot of fun.”

Said Gonzalito Pieres who instructed Bollini on the field: “I am really happy for Juancito. For his age, he is really clever. He understands the game very well.”

Gonzalito Pieres keeps possession of the ball on a breakaway run downfield
Gonzalito Pieres keeps possession of the ball on a breakaway run downfield

In other Sunday games, Zacara, led by Facundo Pieres’ seven goals, defeated Mt. Brilliant, 10-6, and Valiente knocked off Coca-Cola, 13-8. Valiente’s Adolfo Cambiaso was named the Most Valuable Player after scoring seven goals including three on penalty shots.

USPA Piaget Gold Cup action resumes Thursday with five games scheduled. Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi and Piaget are scheduled to play. Piaget will play Orchard Hill at 10 a.m. and Audi plays Zacara in a battle of the unbeatens at 4 p.m.

First played in 1974, the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup has been played at various polo clubs but found a home at IPC in 2007.

When the USPA awarded IPC the Gold Cup in 2007, the International Polo Club Palm Beach, home of the 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Tournament and U.S. Open Championship, sealed its place in history as host of all three legs of the Triple Crown.

Piaget is saluting IPC’s tenth anniversary with the launch of its new luxury Polo FortyFive Black watch which will join their successful collection of polo watches first introduced in the late 1970s.

USPA PIAGET GOLD CUP AUDI/PIAGET SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 14: Piaget vs. Orchard Hill, 10 a.m.; Zacara vs. Audi, 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 17: Valiente vs. Audi, 10 a.m.; Piaget vs. ERG, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20: Piaget Gold Cup Semifinals, 2, 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 21: Butler Handicap Semifinals, Gold Cup subsidiary, 10 a.m., noon

Sunday, March 24: Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 26: U.S. Open begins, schedule, pairings to be announced.

AUDI/PIAGET TOURNAMENT LINEUP

March 7 – March 24, USPA Piaget Gold Cup

March 26 – April 21, 109th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship

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