February 22, 2021

Wellington, FL – February 21, 2021 – Returning to the C.V. Whitney Cup® and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) for the first time since 2018, Adolfo Cambiaso, along with son Poroto, led Scone to a statement 12-5 victory in the feature game of the week on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1. Earlier in the day, Park Place bounced back from an overtime loss to overwhelm Aspen/Dutta Corp 9-3 on the Isla Carroll West field.

The defense of Park Place was the story in the opening game of the day as they limited Aspen/Dutta Corp to just three goals in their Gauntlet of Polo® debut. Park Place impressed with a disciplined team performance that conceded zero penalty attempts and held Aspen/Dutta Corp to just 1 for 9 shooting over the first four chukkers, leaving little doubt in the six-goal victory. After scoring eight goals in his first game, Hilario Ulloa displayed an increased focus on distributing the ball, finishing with three assists as all four Park Place players found the scoresheet in the victory.

Aspen/Dutta Corp showed some energy in the opening chukker with opportunities around goal but were unable to convert any of their three attempts, allowing Park Place to take the early 1-0 lead on a field goal from Juan Britos. The defensive-minded game carried into the second chukker with goals hard to come by for both teams. Stewart Armstrong came forward from the back of the game to put Aspen/Dutta Corp on the scoreboard, but Park Place’s Jack Whitman, playing in place of Andrey Borodin for the second consecutive game, responded with his first goal. In the lowest-scoring half of the season, Park Place’s Britos converted a Penalty 3 in the only goal of the third chukker to finish the half holding the slim 3-1 lead.

All four Park Place players scored goals to contribute to the win. ©Alex Pacheco

The game changed in a decisive fourth chukker as Ulloa began to assert his 10-goal status on the game. Scoring two goals while assisting on a goal from Britos, Ulloa led a 3-0 chukker in favor of Park Place while Matt Coppola continued to be effective defensively in preventing Aspen/Dutta Corp from getting any open runs to goal. Held without a goal for the third time in four chukkers, Aspen/Dutta Corp faced a 6-1 deficit with two chukkers remaining. Ulloa’s third goal of the game to open the fifth chukker completed a run of six consecutive goals for Park Place. A Penalty 1 awarded to Gringo Colombres provided a brief reprieve for Aspen/Dutta Corp, but they were unable to match the pace of Park Place, who managed their lead over the final chukker to complete the resounding 9-3 victory.

The much-anticipated debut of Scone lived up to the hype with teenager Poroto leading all players with five goals on accurate 4 for 6 shooting. With the proficient attack led by Poroto and Peke Gonzalez, Adolfo effectively managed the game from the back, keeping possession with Scone and holding Santa Clara to just 2 for 10 shooting and zero field goals in the second half. Santa Clara struggled to find the success they had in their opening game with the duo of Miguel Novillo Astrada and Luis Escobar limited to just one combined goal as Santa Clara trailed throughout the game in the 12-5 defeat.

Scone dominated the game versus Santa Clara to win 12-5. ©Alex Pacheco

Scone wasted little time in the first chukker, dominating possession and keeping Santa Clara in their own half to build a 3-0 lead. Poroto scored two goals while father Adolfo added the third, leaving Santa Clara searching for a response after the first seven minutes of play. Displaying an impressive attacking presence, Poroto scored his third goal to open the second chukker and extend Scone’s lead to four. Finding their footing, Santa Clara fought back in the remainder of the chukker, producing three goals on solid teamwork, with one goal each from Felipe Vercellino, Novillo Astrada, and Will Johnston. Refocusing defensively, Scone kept Santa Clara off the scoreboard to finish the first half and received goals from Gonzalez and Adolfo to hold a commanding 7-3 advantage.

The momentum of the rest of the game lied in the fourth chukker as Santa Clara desperately needed to close the gap, but inaccurate shooting kept them from doing so, missing their three shot attempts at goal. The young duo of Poroto and Gonzalez continued to ignite Scone offensively as they added one goal and an assist each, leaving Santa Clara facing a difficult task, trailing by six with two chukkers remaining. Despite three missed penalty attempts in the final two chukkers, Scone effectively managed their lead behind their exceptional defense, preventing Santa Clara from scoring any field goals throughout the second half and cruising to the 12-5 victory. For his five-goal performance, Poroto was awarded Most Valuable Player while Adolfo’s GT Frapera won Best Playing Pony.

Adolfo Cambiaso’s GT Frapera won Best Playing Pony. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2021 – Bouncing back from an overtime loss in their opening game, Coca-Cola captured their first victory in the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup®, defeating Tonkawa 14-11 behind an impressive eight-goal, two-assist performance from Nico Pieres on Field 3 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

Facing a must-win game, Coca-Cola produced an efficient offensive showing, converting four of their five penalty attempts while also shooting above 50% from the field. The anticipated debut of the Sapo Caset, Francisco Elizalde duo for Tonkawa was thwarted by a disciplined Coca-Cola team that kept Tonkawa off the penalty line, conceding just one penalty attempt throughout the game. Left to open play, Tonkawa had their opportunities to match Coca-Cola but struggled to convert around goal with the same accuracy of a Coca-Cola team that made a few tough-angle shots in the three-goal victory.

The opening minutes of the game featured Nico Pieres as the stand-out player on the field, scoring three consecutive goals for Coca-Cola, including a Penalty 4 conversion to finish the first chukker holding a 3-2 lead. A game displaying exceptional horsepower from both teams, Coca-Cola extended their lead further receiving contributions from Julian de Lusarreta and Mackenzie Weisz in the well-rounded attack. In a clean start to the game, Tonkawa’s only offense came from the field on Elizalde’s second goal, keeping Tonkawa within reach as they trailed by two. Caset’s Penalty 2 conversion in the third chukker proved to be Tonkawa’s only penalty attempt in the game with Coca-Cola remaining disciplined, allowing them to continue their pressure from the field. One goal each from Gillian Johnston, Weisz, and Pieres gave Coca-Cola the commanding 8-5 lead entering halftime.

Coca-Cola defeated Tonkawa with a score of 14 to 11. ©Alex Pacheco

The start of the second half featured a revitalized Tonkawa team led by the play of Elizalde, who raced out of the break to score three goals and add an assist in an impressive fourth chukker. Generating seven shots on goal in the chukker, Tonkawa quickly turned their three-goal deficit into a tied score at 9-9, leaving the outcome to be decided in the final two chukkers. In a high-scoring game, it was the defense in the fifth chukker from Coca-Cola that ultimately changed the game, holding Tonkawa off the scoreboard while scoring three unanswered goals, two coming from Pieres to take control of the game. Converting a neckshot from almost on the end line, de Lusarreta pushed Coca-Cola’s lead further to four, ending the hopes of a Tonkawa comeback. Late goals from Cody Ellis and Caset were not enough for Tonkawa to challenge Coca-Cola late in the 14-11 defeat.

Play resumes with two games on Sunday with Aspen/Dutta Corp making their debut against Park Place at 11 am EST, while Scone faces Santa Clara in the feature game of the week at 3 pm EST.

Julian de Lusarreta scored multiple goals, including one of the final ones of the game that helped to seal Coca-Cola‘s victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.