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Wellington, FL – April 5, 2021 – The final game of bracket play in the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® resulted in Scone returning to the win column, defeating Coca-Cola 10-7 on Field 3 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

Pulling away in the second half, Scone held Coca-Cola to just one goal over a three-chukker stretch, controlling possession to build a significant lead. Producing twice as many shots at goal, Scone was led by the six-goal performance of Peke Gonzalez and the play of Sayyu Dantata Jr., who proved to be an effective substitute for David Paradice, scoring two goals in the victory. Coca-Cola stayed even in the early stages behind the play of Nico Pieres, but a strong Scone defense changed the momentum of the game, while the few fouls Coca-Cola did commit resulted in penalty conversions for Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalez, leading to the 10-7 outcome in favor of Scone.

Scone was led by the six-goal performance of Peke Gonzalez and the play of Sayyu Dantata Jr., who substituted for David Paradice. ©Alex Pacheco

Gillian Johnston opened the game with a goal for Coca-Cola, striking first against a Scone team looking for their first win of the tournament. After Gonzalez tied the score, a Penalty 4 conversion for Pieres pushed Coca-Cola back into the lead as they provided a determined attack in the opening chukker. Making an early impact, Dantata Jr. ended the first chukker with a goal, tying the game at 2-2. Trading goals throughout the second chukker, Scone generated their offense from the penalty line while Coca-Cola responded from the field, but the result was the score remaining tied with neither team able to pull ahead. A fast-paced end to the first half saw no whistles and nine shots between the two teams, but Scone was the only team to find the goal on a field goal from Gonzalez to take the narrow 5-4 lead into halftime.

A fast-paced end to the first half saw no whistles and nine shots between the two teams. ©Alex Pacheco

Scone began the second half controlling possession and keeping Coca-Cola in their defensive end as they held them to zero shots over the fourth and fifth chukkers. Adolfo Cambiaso increased his presence in the game, receiving a Penalty 1, converting a safety and assisting on a Gonzalez field goal in a span of minutes to give Scone the commanding 8-4 lead. Coca-Cola’s comeback hopes were dashed in the fifth chukker, extending their goalless streak from the field to over 20 minutes. Dantata Jr.’s second goal completed a run of six unanswered goals that left Coca-Cola facing a 10-4 deficit on the scoreboard. Pieres fought to try and bring Coca-Cola within reach, scoring the final three goals of the game, but ultimately Scone’s performance led to the 10-7 victory.

Play resumes on Thursday when Aspen/Dutta Corp faces Santa Clara in a playoff game to determine the final spot in the quarterfinals, beginning on Saturday, April 10 at IPC.

Scone began the second half controlling possession and keeping Coca-Cola in their defensive end. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Sunday brunch will now be available through May 9, Mother‘s Day, thanks to the addition of three new Sunday game dates. 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 – April 4, 2021 – Two games in the 2021 CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® highlighted Easter Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, beginning with Pilot producing a sixth chukker comeback to defeat Santa Clara 13-12. In the feature game of the week on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1, Tonkawa faced a difficult challenge from Cessna but scored five of the final six goals in the game to secure the 14-12 victory and join Pilot with a 2-0 record.

An exciting opening game at Valiente came down to the final seconds between Pilot and Santa Clara, with Facundo Pieres completing one of his best performances of the season, scoring 10 goals including the game-winning penalty conversion, while also adding three assists to contribute on all 13 Pilot goals. Santa Clara produced one of their strongest showings of the season, converting 67% of their shots from the field and all four penalties attempts in an efficient performance, but sixth chukker foul trouble ultimately allowed Pilot to grab the lead inside the final minute to remain undefeated with the 13-12 victory.

Winning the open throw-in, Miguel Novillo Astrada found Felipe Vercellino to score on the first play of the game, giving Santa Clara the quick 1-0 lead. Pilot reorganized and controlled the remainder of the first chukker, led by Facundo Pieres’ field goal, assist and penalty conversion from over 80 yards away to give his team the 3-2 lead. Despite being heavily outshot 13-3 in the first half, Santa Clara was able to keep pace with Pilot due to the accurate penalty shooting of Vercellino, who finished a perfect 4 for 4 from the penalty line. Converting just two of their final eight shot attempts in the half, Pilot continued to work their two-man game with Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres but were unable to pull away by halftime, tied at 7-7.

Pilot’s shooting struggles carried into the second half as they were held without a field goal in the fourth and fifth chukker, including some crucial blocks in front of goal by the Santa Clara defense as they stood tall against the pressure of Pilot’s attack. One goal each from Vercellino and Johnston, along with assists from Astrada and Escobar in the fourth chukker highlighted the complete Santa Clara team performance that pushed them into the narrow one-goal lead. Transitioning from passing to scoring, Astrada and Escobar each took advantage of their one opportunity at goal to extend their lead to two and leave Pilot in danger of their first loss of the tournament. Trading goals in the opening moments of the sixth chukker, time was running out for Pilot but Facundo Pieres scored back-to-back goals, leaving the score tied at 12-12. With one minute left, Vercellino got caught on an uneven ride-off, sending Pieres to the penalty line for a chance to win the game, and he sent the ball through the posts to complete the hard-fought 13-12 victory.

Curtis Pilot and Facundo Pieres celebrate the team‘s win. ©Alex Pacheco

A second comeback was seen in the feature game of the week as Tonkawa fought back from two goals down in the fifth chukker to remain undefeated.  An efficient game on both sides of the ball resulted in 56% and 63% shooting from the field respectively for Tonkawa and Cessna, with the difference ultimately coming down to the penalty line, where Tonkawa’s Sapo Caset converted four of his five penalty attempts. In a game that was tied on five different occasions, Caset proved why he was the scoring leader in the Gauntlet of Polo®, scoring 10 goals in the narrow victory as the teams turn their attention to the quarterfinals of the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®.

Early pressure from Tonkawa forced Cessna into two early fouls and a Penalty 3 conversion for Caset that was quickly followed by a goal from the field on the following play. Withstanding the initial surge from Tonkawa, Cessna responded with Jared Zenni effectively manning the back of the game and assisting on two goals as part of a three-goal run for Cessna that gave them the 3-2 lead. Carrying that strategy into the second chukker, Zenni’s third assist of the game resulted in a goal for Mariano Obregon Jr. and a two-goal advantage for Cessna. Ferrario’s second goal ended a three-goal run for Cessna, but wanting to avoid a deficit at halftime, Caset took over, scoring four goals on two penalty conversions and perfect shooting from the field to turn a three-goal deficit into a two-goal lead in a matter of minutes.

The game was close with five instances of a tie score, but Tonkawa prevailed over Cessna. ©Alex Pacheco

Cessna exited the tent refocusing on a four-man attack that led to instant success to begin the second half. Camp Campbell led the way with two goals at the front of the game as Cessna shot at goal eight times in the fourth chukker alone to retake the lead at 11-9. The back-and-forth game saw its fifth tie as Tonkawa worked its way back even at 11-11, receiving one goal each from Lucas Escobar and Jeff Hildebrand in a crucial chukker that left the two teams deadlocked entering the final seven minutes. Tonkawa struck first with Elizalde setting up Caset and then following up with a goal of his own to build a two-goal lead. Obregon Jr.’s fifth goal of the game cut the lead in half, but it was as close as Cessna could come as Caset’s tenth goal sealed the 14-12 victory for Tonkawa.

Cessna’s Camp Campbell was awarded Most Valuable Player, finishing with three goals, while Sapo Caset’s Machitos Francisca captured Best Playing Pony honors. The final game of round two in the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® is Monday at 4 pm ET as Coca-Cola takes on Scone.

Pictured with Olga Hartsock of CaptiveOne Advisors, Tonkawa is undefeated in the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Sunday brunch will now be available through May 9, Mother‘s Day, thanks to the addition of three new Sunday game dates. 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 – April 1, 2021 – The final two teams, Tonkawa and Scone, made their debuts in the 2021 CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® on Thursday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach as four teams jostled for positions in their brackets. In the opening game of the day, Tonkawa faced a second-half push from Aspen/Dutta Corp but stood tall in the final two chukkers to claim the 11-9 victory. After splitting their first two meetings, Park Place got the best of USPA Gold Cup® champions Scone, holding on for an exciting 9-8 victory.

Setting their sights on reaching a second consecutive final in the Gauntlet of Polo®, Tonkawa began their tournament with a hard-fought victory on perfect 4 for 4 penalty shooting from Sapo Caset and a passing attack that overwhelmed Aspen/Dutta Corp in the first half. Assisting on all seven of their field goals in the game, Tonkawa effectively passed to goal, but Aspen/Dutta Corp produced a run of five goals that changed the momentum of the game that ultimately left them just short of the comeback in the narrow two-goal defeat.

Controlling possession throughout the first half, Tonkawa had their opportunities to build a large lead but converted just three of their 14 shot attempts. However, the constant pressure from Tonkawa kept the ball in the attacking half and produced a 3-0 chukker in favor of the team in green, with two goals coming off the mallet of Caset. After a Penalty 4 conversion from Caset extended the lead to four, Aspen/Dutta Corp ended their drought when Stewart Armstrong came forward in the game for his team’s first goal. While continuing to prevent Aspen/Dutta Corp from scoring, Tonkawa struggled to add to their lead after missed chances around goal, leaving the score at 5-2 entering halftime.

A renewed focus to start the second half resulted in three Tonkawa goals in a span of minutes that put them ahead 8-2 and left Aspen/Dutta Corp facing a big hill to climb. Despite their early struggles offensively, Aspen/Dutta Corp came alive for the rest of the fourth chukker, starting with a run from Timmy Dutta. A Penalty 1 goal awarded to Gringo Colombres was quickly followed by another field goal as Aspen/Dutta Corp scored three goals in a span of one minute and 45 seconds to change the game. Another goal each from Colombres and Dutta brought Aspen/Dutta Corp within one, trailing 8-7 entering the fifth chukker. Returning to a possession-based attack, Francisco Elizalde pushed the lead back to four on consecutive goals, but Aspen/Dutta Corp provided one final push to try and send the game to overtime. In a final attempt, Colombres and Armstrong scored to threaten Tonkawa’s victory, but time ran out as they were ultimately defeated 11-9.

Though Aspen/Dutta Corp made up ground in the second half, Tonkawa stayed on top to win 11-9. ©Alex Pacheco

A tale of two halves, Park Place and Scone battled until the final seconds despite Park Place scoring the first seven goals of the game. Building a 7-0 lead on the reigning USPA Gold Cup® champions, Park Place looked to have the win secured but were held to just two shots in the second half as Scone fought their way back into the game on four penalty conversions from Peke Gonzalez. The potent Scone attack was held to just eight goals, four goals below their season average as their first-half struggles ultimately made the difference in the 9-8 defeat.

Goals proved to be hard to come by in the first chukker as a Penalty 4 conversion from Hilario Ulloa provided the only offense in the opening seven minutes. The momentum swung in Park Place’s favor at the start of the second chukker after a run from Andrey Borodin was finished by an impressive shot to goal, extending Park Place’s lead to two. Scone was held scoreless through two chukkers, a rarity for the Cambiaso-led offense, allowing Park Place to build a significant seven-goal lead in a dominant third chukker by Ulloa. A goal from Poroto Cambiaso ended the half but left Scone facing a difficult task to come back from a 7-1 deficit.

Hilario Ulloa scored five of Park Place‘s nine goals. ©Alex Pacheco

Beginning to chip away at the lead, Scone prevented Park Place from attempting a shot at goal and found a rhythm offensively, receiving a Penalty 2 goal from Gonzalez and a second field goal from Poroto Cambiaso. Still holding a comfortable four-goal lead, Park Place continued to limit the Scone attack, but their opponents slowly closed the gap behind the young duo of Gonzalez and Poroto Cambiaso. Gonzalez’s third penalty conversion brought Scone within two, but an impressive response from Park Place saw a long pass from Juan Britos picked up on the nearside by Matt Coppola and finished for a goal to extend the lead back to three. Sent to the penalty line again, Gonzalez converted, leaving two minutes for Scone to tie the game. Running into Park Place territory, Scone was unable to score just feet from goal as a game-saving backhand from Ulloa secured the 9-8 victory.

The game came down to the final seconds, but Park Place earned a 9-8 victory over Scone. ©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 – March 31, 2021 – Capturing the U.S. Open Polo Championship® nearly two years ago, Pilot finally began the defense of their title, and the third leg of the Gauntlet of Polo®, on Thursday, traveling to the fields at La Indiana. For the second time in four games, overtime was needed, and it was Pilot that emerged as the victor, defeating La Indiana 14-13 on a neckshot from distance by Facundo Pieres.

A match-up featuring three Pieres 10-goalers, it was brothers Facundo and Gonzalito who ultimately came out on top over Polito, thanks to accurate five for six penalty shooting in the second half. Shooting at goal more often in the first half, Pilot changed their strategy towards the end of the game, pressuring the La Indiana defense to work their way onto the penalty line. La Indiana won the battle in open play and had their opportunities to grab the victory in the thrilling final moments of the game, but after withstanding a late push by La Indiana, Pilot’s Facundo Pieres converted a neckshot for the golden goal to open their tournament with a victory.

Just 13 seconds into play, Pilot’s Facundo Pieres drew a foul and converted the Penalty 3 attempt to open the scoring. Making an immediate impact for their respective teams, all three Pieres’ scored in the first chukker with Polito Pieres adding two goals to leave the game tied at 2-2. There was little doubt about the high-level of play displayed between the two teams as they continued to battle stride-for-stride throughout the first half, beginning with Pilot taking a slim one-goal lead after finishing the second chukker with back-to-back goals from Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres. After finding early success from the field, Pilot was unable to convert any of their six shot attempts in the third chukker, opening the door for La Indiana to take the lead. Behind a balanced team attack, La Indiana scored three consecutive goals, one each from Michael Bickford, Nico Escobar, and Polito Pieres to retake the lead and exit the first half with a 7-5 advantage.

The two teams battled stride-for-stride throughout the first half, beginning with Pilot taking a slim one-goal lead after finishing the second chukker with back-to-back goals from Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres. ©Alex Pacheco

A lightning-quick start to the second half featured Pilot’s exceptional two-man game producing four goals on perfect two-for-two shooting from the field and penalty line, but La Indiana was still able to hold on to their lead. Two goals and an assist from Polito Pieres kept La Indiana ahead by just one goal in an exciting stretch of seven goals in seven minutes. The offense continued to come for both teams in the high-powered match, with Pilot working their way back into a tie on a Penalty 1 and Penalty 2 conversion in the fifth chukker. A clutch Penalty 4 conversion for Facundo Pieres left two minutes for La Indiana to force overtime and fighting through the mallet of Facundo Pieres, it was Nico Escobar who tied the game at 13-13. With time ticking down, Polito Pieres broke out of the throw-in for a breakaway with a chance to win the game, but the ball went just wide as time ran out, sending the game into overtime.

Facundo Pieres secured the thrilling victory for PIlot on a neckshot during overtime. ©Alex Pacheco

Picking the ball up at the half, Facundo Pieres worked the ball down to the 60-yard line just 45 seconds in and hit a neckshot that sailed just inside the post. After a review to determine whether the goal would count, the goal was confirmed and Pilot secured the thrilling 14-13 victory.

Play resumes Thursday with Aspen/Dutta Corp facing Tonkawa at 10 am ET, followed by Park Place against Scone for the third time this season at 4 pm ET.

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 – March 29, 2021 – The USPA Gold Cup® concluded on Sunday with Scone’s victory over Tonkawa, but the Gauntlet of Polo® carries on as the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® kicked off in full force with two games on Monday. Showcasing the elite level of play that the tournament provides, Coca-Cola defeated Park Place 11-10 in overtime, while Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Few games have been decided by smaller margins than the second game of the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® between Coca-Cola and Park Place. Shooting nearly identical percentages from the field and penalty line, the only difference proved to be the golden goal by Mackenzie Weisz one minute and 45 seconds into overtime. All eight players found the scoresheet, including four goals from Nico Pieres in his return to play for Coca-Cola, as Coca-Cola emerged as the winner in the hard-fought match.

Trading penalty conversions to start the game, the remainder of the first chukker resulted in the two teams matching each other stride-for-stride, tied at 2-2 after field goals from Gillian Johnston and Matt Coppola. Coca-Cola had their opportunities to take the lead, winning all five throw-ins in the first chukker, but could not utilize the extra possessions against a tough Park Place defense. Ulloa and Coppola played well off each other in the final two chukkers of the first half, combining for four goals, letting Britos lead them to goal with the pass to pull ahead by one, holding a narrow 6-5 lead at halftime.

Making their first run of the game, Coca-Cola came out of the tent playing a complete team game to produce a three-goal chukker, while more importantly keeping Park Place scoreless. Two field goals from Pieres along with one from Johnston highlighted Coca-Cola’s strong chukker, with de Lusarreta and Weisz both collecting assists. As was the case throughout the game, a swift response was seen from their opponent when Park Place scored three goals of their own, led by 10-goaler Ulloa. Scoring two goals, Ulloa also found Andrey Borodin for his first goal, bringing the game even once again. Britos opened the scoring in the sixth chukker as Park Place had their sights set on the victory but inside the final minute, Johnston worked the ball downfield and scored her third goal to send the game into overtime. After a foul call against Park Place gave possession back to Coca-Cola, a long pass downfield from Pieres found Weisz and he was able to hit the ball just inside the post for the game-winning goal and the 11-10 victory.

All four of Coca-Cola‘s players found the scoresheet to contribute to the win. ©Alex Pacheco

The second game saw Cessna face Aspen/Dutta Corp for the second consecutive game and they were able to avenge their loss in the USPA Gold Cup® in a dominant 14-6 win. Seven goals from Mariano Obregon Jr. highlighted a proficient Cessna attack that led from start to finish, shooting above 50% from the field and converting all but one of their six penalty attempts. Colombres was the only scorer for Aspen/Dutta Corp, responsible for all six goals, but their defense could not slow a determined Cessna offense in the defeat.

The tone was set in the opening chukker by Cessna, building a 3-0 lead on goals from Ferrario, Zenni and Obregon Jr. by completing accurate runs to goal. Despite the slow start, Aspen/Dutta Corp stormed back in the second chukker behind the play of Colombres. After adding a goal from the field and penalty line, Colombres lined up a shot from distance with time running out in the chukker and finding the goal to pull his team within one, trailing 4-3. Foul trouble to end the half for Aspen/Dutta Corp pushed the possession back to Cessna and they capitalized with a three-goal chukker, two coming from the penalty line to restore control of the game, holding a four-goal advantage at halftime.

Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6. ©Alex Pacheco

Continuing to dominate possession, Cessna quickly added to their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, receiving a field goal and penalty conversion from Obregon Jr. Completing a run of six unanswered goals, Ferrario extended Cessna’s lead to seven as Aspen/Dutta Corp struggled to generate offense from the field, producing just one field goal over the final four chukkers. Colombres continued to battle hard, bringing his goal total to six, but the well-rounded attack of Cessna proved to be too much in the game. Camp Campbell, Zenni, and Obregon Jr. added one more goal each in the sixth chukker to complete the impressive 14-6 victory.

Camp Campbell and Jared Zenni celebrating Cessna‘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®.

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2021 – The finale of the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo® was played on a hot, sunny day at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), with Scone producing one of their best performances of the season, defeating Tonkawa 13-10 on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1 to raise the USPA Gold Cup® and walk away with the $100,000 prize.

Scone asserted their offense at the beginning of the final, scoring seven of the first eight goals to leave Tonkawa trailing from behind throughout the game. The fast pace set by Scone resulted in four early penalty goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Peke Gonzalez, adding to a strong open play performance from Poroto Cambiaso that ultimately allowed Scone to build and maintain their large lead. The trio, along with David Paradice, was able to turn their focus to defense after the offensive outburst, holding Tonkawa to just three first-half goals. With the victory, Adolfo Cambiaso captures his 15th USPA Gold Cup® title, but it may be one of the most memorable, playing alongside son Poroto for their first victory together at IPC.

Winning the first throw-in, Scone worked the ball downfield, and after missing their first attempt at goal, they regained possession, and Adolfo Cambiaso received a Penalty 1 to open the scoring. Unable to convert consecutive penalty attempts from the 60-yard line, Tonkawa was left scoreless in the first seven minutes as Scone added to their lead. Paradice left the ball in front of goal for an assist to Poroto Cambiaso, and before the end of the first chukker, Poroto struck again for his second goal and a 3-0 lead. Tonkawa fought hard to match the pace set by Scone, finally breaking through for their first goal of the game on a field goal from Caset, but the accurate penalty shooting of Scone changed the opening half. Converting back-to-back Penalty 4 conversions, Adolfo Cambiaso gave Scone the commanding 7-1 lead, putting them in a position to focus on containing Tonkawa’s elite duo of Caset and Francisco Elizalde. Beginning to chip away at the deficit, Tonkawa’s Elizalde brought his team within four, but on the final play of the half, Adolfo Cambiaso broke free for his fourth goal of the game, sending Scone into the half with the five-goal advantage.

With the victory, Adolfo Cambiaso captures his 15th USPA Gold Cup® title, but it may be one of the most memorable, playing alongside son Poroto for their first victory together at IPC. ©Alex Pacheco

Tournament scoring leader Caset sought to bring Tonkawa back in the game in a determined start to the second half that saw the opening few minutes go in Tonkawa’s favor, pulling one goal closer, but their inaccurate shooting ultimately prevented them from pulling closer. Converting just 33% of their shot attempts through five chukkers compared to 50% for Scone, Tonkawa struggled to slow the father-son duo of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, who scored two goals each in the fourth and fifth chukkers to enter the final seven minutes with a 12-5 lead. Gonzalez opened the sixth chukker with a goal for Scone, all but securing the victory as time ticked down. Tonkawa fought until the final whistle, scoring two field goals and adding three penalty conversions, but the late-game run was not enough to pull within reach as the Scone organization celebrated their first USPA Gold Cup® title, defeating Tonkawa 13-10.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to 15-year-old Poroto Cambiaso, finishing with four goals in the victory. Best Playing Pony honors went to Adolfo Cambiaso and David Stirling’s Monjita Coronada, while the Argentine Bred Best Playing Pony was given to Lovelocks Camuserich.

La Indiana secured the first win of the 2021 CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® over Santa Clara. ©Alex Pacheco

Earlier in the day, the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® began with La Indiana scoring a season-high 18 goals behind a dominant 11-2 second half to defeat Santa Clara 18-9. Accurate 12 for 17 shooting along with nine goals from Polito Pieres contributed to a strong final three chukkers for La Indiana as they limited Santa Clara to just three shots while dominating possession to capture the convincing victory.

Racing out to a 4-0 victory in the first chukker, all four coming from Pieres, La Indiana seemed destined to control the game from the first throw-in, but Santa Clara provided a determined response in the second chukker. Holding La Indiana without a shot, Santa Clara attacked relentlessly, pressuring the La Indiana defense and receiving three penalty attempts, converted for three goals by Felipe Vercellino to tie the game at 5-5. At the end of the first half, it was either team’s game as La Indiana and Santa Clara remained tied, trading one field goal and penalty goal each in the third chukker of what was appearing to be a close first game in the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®.

Polito Pieres contributed to La Indiana‘s total of 18 goals with 9 of his own. ©Alex Pacheco

The momentum swung in La Indiana’s favor in the opening stages of the second half as their accurate shooting began to wear Santa Clara down. Converting three of their four shot attempts, La Indiana’s Jeff Hall contributed two goals to give his team the two-goal lead, which was quickly extended to five in a decisive fifth chukker. Pinned in their own half, Santa Clara was held to just one penalty goal while Escobar and Pieres pushed La Indiana’s attack forward to combine for three goals, leaving Santa Clara in desperate need of offense with one chukker remaining. The frustration for Santa Clara boiled over in the sixth chukker as Felipe Vercellino was sent off for four minutes after multiple yellow cards, leaving Santa Clara one player down and La Indiana to take advantage, scoring five consecutive goals to finish the game and claim the first game of the tournament with the impressive 18-9 victory.

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 – March 24, 2021 – The highly-anticipated semifinals of the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® lived up to the hype as Tonkawa, La Indiana, Scone, and Park Place battled for their place in Sunday’s final. Withstanding a second-half surge from La Indiana that sent the game into overtime, Tonkawa’s Francisco Elizalde scored the golden goal, giving Tonkawa the 13-12 victory. In a rematch of the C.V. Whitney Cup® final, Scone avenged their loss, holding off a last-second scoring attempt from Park Place to claim the 9-8 victory at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The first semifinal was a tale of two halves with Tonkawa building a six-goal lead in the first half and La Indiana storming back to force overtime in the final two chukkers. After shooting seven for nine in the first half, Tonkawa was held without a field goal over the final three chukkers, missing all seven shot attempts until Elizalde broke through in overtime. Relying on their 10-goaler Polito Pieres in the comeback, La Indiana’s accurate shooting from the field and the penalty line pulled them even but ended up a goal short in a thrilling first semifinal.

Two high-powered offenses promised an exciting game and it began in the first chukker with six combined goals. Pieres opened the scoring for La Indiana, but a Penalty 2 conversion from Caset, followed by Jeff Hildebrand’s first goal pushed Tonkawa into the lead. The individual performance from Caset in the first seven minutes where he scored three goals gave Tonkawa the early edge, with La Indiana trying to return to the USPA Gold Cup® final. Building on their momentum from the first chukker, Tonkawa’s Caset and Elizalde added one goal each to extend their consecutive goal streak to four as La Indiana struggled to convert their chances around goal. The game ultimately changed in the third chukker as Tonkawa dominated the final stages of the first half, converting four of their five shot attempts to outscore La Indiana 4-1 in the chukker and exit the half with a commanding 10-4 lead.

Tonkawa will face Scone in the USPA Gold Cup® Final on Sunday. ©Alex Pacheco

Trading Penalty 2 conversions for the only offense in the fourth chukker, La Indiana was left facing a six-goal deficit with just two chukkers remaining against a Tonkawa team determined to make their first final in the Gauntlet of Polo®. A determined La Indiana team came alive in the fifth chukker, holding Tonkawa off the scoreboard and following the lead of Pieres, who scored three of his team’s four goals in the chukker, quickly bringing the deficit to just two goals and setting up a tense final chukker. Pieres struck again for La Indiana’s fifth consecutive goal, pulling within one as they continued to chip away at the lead. With two minutes left in the game, Michael Bickford jumped on a loose ball and shot the ball off the post and in, sending the game into overtime. Beginning with a throw-in just 40 yards from their own goal, La Indiana was unable to escape their own half as Tonkawa’s Elizalde wove through the defense and hit a neckshot just inside the post to claim the hard-fought 13-12 victory.

Facing each other for the first time since the C.V. Whitney Cup® final, Park Place and Scone were caught in another battle that once again came down to the final second. Tied after each of the first three chukkers and both shooting above 50% from the field, little separated the two teams until a 2-0 fourth chukker in favor of Scone gave them the edge for the remainder of the game. Adolfo Cambiaso was crucial throughout the second half, scoring four of his team’s five goals to help overcome two for six penalty shooting for Scone and survive a late push for Park Place that had the ball in front of their goal as time expired.

Park Place defeated Scone in the C.V. Whitney Cup® Final, but Scone redeemed themselves Wednesday at IPC. ©Alex Pacheco

The opening chukker set the tone for the match as both Scone and Park Place were tightly marked, making scoring chances hard to come by. Juan Britos opened the scoring on the receiving end of a pass from Hilario Ulloa, but before the end of the chukker, Peke Gonzalez provided a response for Scone, leaving the score at 1-1. The duo of Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalez were matched by Park Place’s Ulloa and Britos in a back-and-forth game. Two quick goals from Scone gave them a two-goal lead for the first time, but Park Place produced a run of their own on consecutive field goals to restore the tie. Two missed penalty attempts in the first half kept Scone from taking the lead into halftime as the teams remained deadlocked after the third chukker, setting up a high-pressure second half to reach the final.

Scone made the first push of the game in the fourth chukker, holding Park Place off the scoresheet and led offensively by their 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso. A Penalty 4 conversion for Cambiaso, along with a field goal from Gonzalez resulted in Scone holding the 6-4 lead and leaving Park Place to fight from behind for the first time in the game. Cambiaso continued his strong play, scoring to begin the fifth chukker and looking to pull away, but after a goal-line stand by Ulloa, Coppola completed the play on the other end, bringing Park Place back within one. Ulloa tied the game in the early stages of the sixth chukker, but after scoring to put Scone back in the lead, Adolfo Cambiaso left the ball in front of goal and Gonzalez converted the neckshot to seemingly seal the win. However, with time running out, Park Place received a Penalty 1 with seven seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. A long hit from Coppola put the ball in front of the Scone goal, but it was unable to be converted as Scone celebrated the 9-8 victory and will meet Tonkawa in the USPA Gold Cup® final, where a new champion will be crowned.

Adolfo Cambiaso celebrated Scone‘s win and place in the USPA Gold Cup® Final. ©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 – March 21, 2021 – The final day of bracket play of the USPA Gold Cup® showcased the top four teams in Bracket II fighting for a spot in the semifinals at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. In the opening game of the day, Scone overwhelmed Pilot to capture the 13-6 victory, while in the feature game of the week, Coca-Cola overcame an injury to Diego Cavanagh to defeat La Indiana 14-10 on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1.

The much-anticipated return of Facundo Pieres highlighted the match-up against Scone, but a dominant performance from the trio of Adolfo Cambiaso, Peke Gonzalez, and Poroto Cambiaso led Scone to victory. Controlling possession throughout, Scone held Pilot to just one field goal on 10 shot attempts while they were led offensively by six goals from Poroto Cambiaso. Heavily outshooting Pilot 21-10 and shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from the penalty line, Scone completed the impressive 13-6 victory.

Wasting little time after missing three games, Facundo Pieres scored the opening goal to give Pilot the early 1-0 lead. A Penalty 4 conversion from Adolfo Cambiaso provided Scone’s response in an evenly matched first chukker with neither team able to grab control of the play. That changed in the second chukker as Pilot was held without a shot and Scone’s offense began to take charge of the game, receiving two field goals from Poroto Cambiaso to build a two-goal lead. Finishing the half with five consecutive goals, Scone kept Pilot in their defensive half while Poroto Cambiaso produced one of his best showings of the season, stealing the ball from Facundo Pieres and adding his third and fourth goals to lead 6-2.

The father-son Cambiaso duo celebrate their win with Scone. ©Alex Pacheco

Unable to generate any offense from the field, Pilot ended Scone’s run with a Penalty 4 conversion from Gonzalito Pieres, but it was a brief reprieve from the Scone attack, who continued to pressure Pilot and extend their lead. Two goals from Adolfo Cambiaso concluded the fourth chukker, leaving Scone in full control holding a five-goal advantage and maintaining consistent possession of the ball. In need of offense, Pilot produced two shots at goal in the fifth chukker but missed the mark on both, dashing any hopes of a comeback as Scone pushed their lead to six after a goal and an assist from Peke Gonzalez. Two penalty conversions for Pilot in the sixth chukker proved to be their only offense as Poroto Cambiaso finished a strong performance with two more goals in the 13-6 victory for Scone.

The feature game of the week between Coca-Cola and La Indiana had implications on the semifinal with a La Indiana victory pushing them into the semifinals while a Coca-Cola victory would set up a three-team shootout with Scone. Leading from start to finish, Coca-Cola overcame an injury to Diego Cavanagh and saw Francisco Elizalde step in for the 9-goaler and have a significant impact against La Indiana. Leading all players with six goals despite not playing until the start of the third chukker, Elizalde filled in admirably and provided a spark for Coca-Cola as they dominated possession in the 14-10 win.

Coca-Cola‘s victory instigated a three-team shootout this Monday. ©Alex Pacheco

Determined to fight for their place in the semifinals, Coca-Cola raced out of the gate with a three-goal first chukker, taking advantage of two La Indiana fouls to convert a Penalty 4 and Penalty 2 attempt from Cavanagh and Mackenzie Weisz. Although they were limited to just one shot attempt, La Indiana’s Polito Pieres took advantage of the opportunity that resulted in a 3-1 difference on the scoreboard. Two quick goals for Coca-Cola to start the second chukker pushed their lead to four as La Indiana struggled to find their footing, but before the end of the chukker, La Indiana found some momentum thanks to a penalty conversion from Pieres and field goal from Escobar. An injury forced Cavanagh from the game as Coca-Cola brought in Elizalde and, despite the new team, he made an immediate impact. Receiving two passes from Julian de Lusarreta, Elizalde found instant chemistry, adding two goals to give Coca-Cola the 7-4 lead at halftime.

Continuing his impressive substitute performance, Elizalde converted all three shot attempts in an exceptional fourth chukker for Coca-Cola as they took control against the previously undefeated La Indiana team, building a significant 11-6 advantage on the scoreboard. Facing an urgent situation and in need of offense, La Indiana came alive in the fifth chukker by holding Coca-Cola scoreless and relying on the duo of Pieres and Escobar to score three unanswered goals and pull within two. With their sights set on a comeback, La Indiana struggled to keep possession in the final chukker as Coca-Cola effectively managed their lead to complete the 14-10 victory.

Francisco Elizalde captured Most Valuable Player while Open Reebok, played by Elizalde and owned by Nico Pieres, 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 – March 20, 2021 – The final day of play in Bracket I of the USPA Gold Cup® determined the seeding of the four teams, with Park Place and Tonkawa battling for the top seed. The first game of the day resulted in Aspen/Dutta Corp capturing their first victory, defeating Cessna 11-10, while Tonkawa and Park Place battled into overtime at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, where Tonkawa completed their comeback to capture the 11-10 victory and the #1 seed entering the semifinals.

Fighting for their first win in the tournament, Aspen/Dutta Corp and Cessna remained close throughout, never separated by more than three goals in the evenly matched game. Despite the close game, Aspen/Dutta Corp did not trail in the game, taking their one-goal advantage on handicap and remaining one step ahead of Cessna due to the eight-goal performance from Gringo Colombres. Despite shooting much more efficiently from the field, foul trouble hurt Cessna in the game, conceding eight penalty attempts and six goals to Aspen/Dutta Corp who relied on the source of offense to lead them to the 11-10 victory.

A quick start for Aspen/Dutta Corp produced a three-goal lead as they added to their lead on handicap with a field goal and Penalty 4 conversion from Colombres. Cessna struggled to find their footing early with six combined fouls starting and stopping play in the first chukker. Obregon Jr. converted a crucial Penalty 4 attempt to end the chukker, providing some momentum for Cessna. Trading penalty attempts, Colombres and Obregon Jr. kept the deficit at two, but Cessna was able to inch closer on Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario’s first goal of the game. Colombres continued to pace the Aspen/Dutta Corp offense, accounting for every one of his team’s goals in the first half, while Cessna was unable to produce enough scoring opportunities to pull even, trailing 6-5 at halftime.

Aspen/Dutta Corp and Cessna remained close throughout, never separated by more than three goals in the evenly matched game. ©Alex Pacheco

Foul trouble for Cessna proved to be a factor at the start of the second half, conceding two Penalty 2 conversions to Colombres, seeing their deficit grow back to two. With their sights set on their first victory, Aspen/Dutta Coro pressured Cessna in the fifth chukker, trying to pull away with six shots at goal, but inaccurate one for six shooting kept Cessna within reach. Timmy Dutta scored his first goal for Aspen/Dutta Corp, but Cessna responded with one goal each from Jared Zenni and Ferrario. Completing an exceptional performance, Colombres found Alberdi with a pass to seal the victory for Aspen/Dutta Corp with two late goals not enough in the 11-10 defeat.

The two top teams in Bracket I met in the final game of the bracket to determine seeding for the semifinals and it was the relentless attack of Tonkawa that ultimately was the difference in the overtime victory. Park Place held control throughout the game with an efficient attack that shot 57% from the field and converted both penalty attempts, while focusing defensively on slowing down Gauntlet of Polo® scoring leader Sapo Caset, which they did effectively by holding him to just two goals. However, six goals from Francisco Elizalde and a strong final chukker for Tonkawa allowed them to fight back and win on the first play of overtime to take the #1 seed in Bracket I.

Tonkawa completed their comeback to capture the 11-10 victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Making his first appearance of the season, Andrey Borodin returned to the Park Place line-up and his team produced a strong start with Ulloa and Britos collecting a goal and an assist each to build a 2-1 lead. Holding the potent Tonkawa attack scoreless in the second chukker, Park Place extended their lead to three, led by the play of Ulloa, who continued to provide offense both individually and by way of the pass. Converting just two of their 10 shots in the first half, Tonkawa received one goal each from Elizalde and Caset but were unable to pull any closer by halftime, trailing 6-3.

Finding their first momentum of the game, Tonkawa provided a determined start to the second half with Elizalde stepping up with a goal and an assist as part of a three-goal chukker that brought Tonkawa within one. Undeterred, Park Place turned to their 10-goaler Ulloa in the fifth chukker, scoring three consecutive goals and providing a dynamic attack that left Park Place back ahead by three with one chukker remaining. Quiet throughout the early stages of the game, Lucas Escobar made a significant impact for Tonkawa in the sixth chukker, scoring two goals, the second of which tied the game and sent the result into overtime. Just seconds into overtime, a long pass from Elizalde was placed right in front of the goal and it was Escobar who sent it through the goal, securing the 11-10 overtime victory for Tonkawa.

A strong final chukker for Tonkawa allowed them to fight back and win on the first play of overtime to take the #1 seed in Bracket I. ©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 – March 17, 2021 – The 2021 USPA Gold Cup® continued at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Wednesday with a Bracket II play-off game between Pilot and Santa Clara, with the winner advancing to the third round. In a thrilling match, overtime was needed to determine the winner, and it was ultimately decided on a Penalty 2 for Gonzalito Pieres as he converted the opportunity, sending Pilot into the next round with the 12-11 victory.

Without their 10-goaler Facundo Pieres for the third consecutive game, Pilot ran into a balanced Santa Clara team that had all four of their players score at least two goals, but received another strong performance from Gonzalito Pieres, who finished with a game-high nine goals. Tied at five different moments in the game, the outcome could have gone either way with Santa Clara producing fewer chances at goal but shooting a very efficient 70% from the field. Decided by the smallest of margins, the 5 for 6 penalty shooting of Pieres, including the overtime Penalty 2 conversion, gave Pilot the narrow victory.

The evenly-matched contest was seen from the opening throw-in as Pilot and Santa Clara battled throughout the first chukker. With neither team able to score from the field, it was Pieres who gave Pilot a slim 1-0 lead on a Penalty 4 conversion, the only offense through the first seven minutes. Continuing to step up in the absence of brother Facundo, Gonzalito Pieres doubled Pilot’s lead to two, but foul trouble in the second chukker allowed Santa Clara to pull even, adding two penalty goals from Felipe Vercellino, along with a field goal from Luis Escobar to tie the game at 3-3. A game of contrasting playing styles saw Pilot continue to work tirelessly off the ball to free up space for Pieres, while Santa Clara used all four players. The result was the same as the teams remained deadlocked at 5-all entering the second half.

It was a well-matched game, with the scores ties at five different occasions. ©Alex Pacheco

Fighting some foul trouble of their own, Santa Clara conceded three penalties over the fourth and fifth chukkers, but matched Pilot stride-for-stride thanks to accurate shooting from the field. Scoring on five of their first six shot attempts of the second half, two each from Escobar and Will Johnston, Santa Clara continued to produce from the field, carrying some momentum into the final stages of the game against a Pilot team that had received seven goals from Gonzalito Pieres through five chukkers. Pilot dealt the first blow in the sixth chukker as Pieres scored from the field, but Santa Clara provided a response from the penalty line, where Vercellino converted a safety to tie the game for a fifth time. With time running down, Pieres broke free for a breakaway, but the head of his mallet broke to end his run.

Time expired to send the game into overtime, with both teams battling to advance in the tournament. Shortly into overtime, a turnover allowed Lucas James to jump on the loose ball and catch Santa Clara for a foul in front of goal, resulting in a Penalty 2 attempt for Pieres. Placing the ball through the goal posts, Pieres’ ninth goal was the difference in the exciting 12-11 victory for Pilot.

Pilot will advance to the third round of the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® thanks to their win. ©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®.