WELLINGTON, FL, February 27, 2021— Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Great Oaks both stand 1-0 after a perfect weather first day of Founders Cup Play.
In the first game of the day, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Melissa Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, and Juan Martin Zubia) took to the field against Hawaii Polo Life (Chris Dawson, Diego Cavanaugh, Poroto Cambiaso, and Jejo Taranco). Seminolo Casino, with a 24-goal handicap compared to Hawaii Polo Life’s team handicap of 25, started the match with one goal on the board but still came out ahead in overtime play, winning 9-8.
In the second game of the day, Great Oaks Oaks (Dillon Bacon, Clemente Zavaleta, Torito Ruiz, and Nacho Novillo Astrada) held victorious over first time World Polo League team Pampa Norte (Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Santiago Loza, Matias Zavaleta and Pedro Falebella) winning 11-10.
Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Barto Castagnola, Juan Martin Nero) is scheduled to face off with Santa Rita (Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, Sugar Erskine, Horacio Llorente) this afternoon at 1pm.
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek 9 – Hawaii Polo Life 8
Despite a pitched battle and several shots on goal by both teams, neither Seminole Casino Coconut Creek nor Hawaii Polo Life succeeded in getting on the board in the first chukker. Within seconds of play in the second chukker, Jejo Taranco was able to take the ball to goal for Hawaii Polo Life. With 3:21 left in the second chukker, Taranco made a another shot on goal, which bounced off the post and rolled just over the line for his second goal of the day, bringing Hawaii Polo Life ahead 2-1. Alejandro Novillo Astrada was able to convert a penalty for Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at 1:14, tying the score 2-2.
In the third chukker, Poroto Cambiaso gained possession of a long shot ball from Nic Roldan to put another goal on the board for Hawaii Polo Life. A pair of fouls from Hawaii Polo Life allowed Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s Astrada to put two more goals on the board, and the half ended with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek in the lead by 4-3.
In the fourth chukker, Diego Cavanaugh and Poroto Cambiaso each found the uprights for Hawaii Polo Life, but they continued to foul, allowing Novillo Astrada to convert a penalty two and a penalty three to take back the lead. Both teams played a strong defense in the fifth chukker, and neither was able to score from the field. Poroto Cambiaso put the only goal of the chukker on the board with a penalty three.
The sixth chukker saw plenty of action with Poroto Cambiaso, Astrada and Roldan all scoreing bringing the score to 8-7. With 4 seconds left to play Poroto Cambiaso made a long shot to goal and tied the match sending the game into overtime.
Fifteen seconds into the overtime chukker, Diego Cavanaugh was called on a foul, which was challenged by Hawaii Polo Life. The challenge failed and Seminole Casino took a shot on a penalty six that went just wide. The winning shot came from Juan Martin Zubia, who converted on a penalty four, giving Seminole Casino Coconut Creek a 9-8 win over Hawaii Polo Life. Alejandro Novillo Astrada was the high scoring player of the day, with six goals.
Great Oaks 11 – Pampa Norte 10
In the second game of the day, Great Oaks (Dillon Bacon, Clemente Zavaleta, Torito Ruiz, and Nacho Novillo Astrada) took on Pampa Norte (Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Santiago Loza, Matias Zavaleta and Pedro Falebella). Pampa Norte, with a team handicap of 21, started the match with three goals on the board. Great Oaks had a team handicap of 24.
Pampa Norte got off to a good start with Matias Zavaleta scoring the first goal of the day. Clemente Zavaleta, converted a penalty two to put Great Oaks on the board and the first chukker ended 4-1 for Pampa Norte.
Great Oaks dominated the second chukker putting 3 goals on the board leaving Pampa Norte unanswered resulting in a tie 4-4.
In the third chukker, Clemente Zavaleta was able to convert a penalty adding another goal for Great Oaks which was quickly answered by Santiago Loza keeping the score neck to neck. Play was back and forth with Torito Ruiz, Santiago Loza and Pedro Falebella all scoring for their teams, leaving the first half with Papa Norte leading 7-6.
Pampa Norte maintained their lead in the fourth chukker with a goal from Mattias Zavaleta, while Clemente converted a penalty two to keep the margin at one goal. Clemente dominated in the fifth chukker, scoring 3 goals.
In the last minute, Santigo Loza scored to narrow Great Oaks’ lead to 10-9. With 3:47 on the clock, Torito Ruiz picked up a pass from Nacho Novillo Astrada to put Great Oaks ahead 11-9. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Mattias Zavaleta scored the final goal of the match. Great Oaks defeated Pampa Norte by 11-10. Clemente Zavaleta was the high scoring player of the day with 6 goals.
