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Wellington, FL – February 28, 2021 – Group play concluded in the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup®, leaving four teams to compete for the first leg of the Gauntlet of Polo®. La Indiana secured the first spot in the semifinals, ranking first after two rounds, and Scone captured the second spot after defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 12-9. In the feature game of the week, Pilot and Tonkawa met in a rematch on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1, where Tonkawa emerged victorious for a second time, defeating Pilot 10-9 in overtime.

The first match was a clean game where Aspen/Dutta Corp received zero penalty attempts, but Scone held the upper hand, shooting a perfect 5 for 5 from the penalty line to overcome 21% shooting from the field. Lucas Diaz Alberdi returned from injury in his first game of the season but was unable to help Aspen/Dutta Corp capture the victory, despite the five-goal effort from Timmy Dutta. Scone improved to 3-0 led by the duo of Adolfo Cambiaso and Peke Gonzalez, who each finished with four goals in the 12-9 triumph.

With a win securing their spot in the semifinal, Scone started quickly thanks to the play of Cambiaso. Involved on all three Scone goals in the first chukker, including a field goal, an assist, and a safety conversion, Cambiaso gave his team the 3-1 lead, while Aspen/Dutta Corp was held off the scoreboard with their only goal coming on handicap. An impressive second chukker from Dutta saw him score three goals of his own to tie the score at 4-4, as Aspen/Dutta Corp deployed a strong passing attack that saw all three goals assisted on by Gringo Colombres and Stewart Armstrong. Reorganizing, Scone kept possession away from Aspen/Dutta Corp to end the half, holding them without a shot in the third chukker to grab a 7-4 lead entering the second half.

Although few fouls were committed in the game, each one proved costly for Aspen/Dutta Corp as Scone was able to maintain its lead on a penalty conversion from Gonzalez. Colombres and Dutta were providing a strong duo for Aspen/Dutta Corp, but it was not enough to reduce the deficit as the teams continued to trade goals through the fifth chukker. Facing a three-goal deficit, Aspen/Dutta Corp tried mightily to pull within reach, receiving Alberdi’s first goal, but Scone stood tall defensively and completed the 12-9 victory to secure the second spot in the semifinals.

Peke Gonzalez scored four goals for Scone. ©Alex Pacheco

The second game saw Pilot look to avenge their loss to Tonkawa just four days earlier, controlling play and maintaining at least a three-goal advantage through the fourth chukker, but after an injury to Facundo Pieres forced him from the game, Tonkawa charged back to force overtime and score the eventual golden goal for their only lead in the entire game. Pieres exited the game with three goals and two assists as Pilot struggled to cope with the loss of the 10-goaler, unable to slow Tonkawa in the final stages of the game and conceding a 6-1 run. Despite conceding more opportunities at goal, Tonkawa shot a more efficient 53% from the field to force the game into overtime and claim the victory on Francisco Elizalde’s winning goal, sending Tonkawa into a shootout for a spot in the semifinals. 

Entering the rematch against Pilot averaging 12.5 goals per game, Tonkawa’s offense was stifled in the first two chukkers, held without a goal as Pilot dominated possession to keep the ball in the attacking half. Gonzalito Pieres was a standout player for Pilot as they continued to build on their lead, converting a Penalty 3 in the first chukker while adding a goal to finish the second chukker to give Pilot the 4-0 lead. Sapo Caset ended the drought for Tonkawa on the first play of the third chukker, kickstarting a Tonkawa offense that began to fight their way back into the game. Producing a three-goal chukker, all scored by Caset and all assisted by Elizalde, Tonkawa faced a 6-3 deficit at halftime.

Tonkawa defeated Pilot for the second time thanks to a 10-9 score in overtime. ©Alex Pacheco

The two elite duos for Pilot and Tonkawa continued to battle in the fourth chukker as Pilot maintained their three-goal advantage, trading goals with Tonkawa. With time ticking down in the fourth chukker, play was stopped as Facundo Pieres was forced from the game due to an injury and replaced by brother Nico Pieres for the remaining two chukkers. Stepping onto a new team, Nico Pieres was thrust into a difficult task of containing Caset, who added two goals to his total, but Pilot remained ahead by two goals after Keko Magrini’s first goal of the game. Trailing by two, Tonkawa applied relentless pressure in the sixth chukker, pulling within one goal with a minute and 30 seconds remaining. On the following play, Tonkawa pushed towards their goal and Lucas Escobar left the ball in front of goal and it, where it was finished by Caset, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra chukker, Pilot received the first opportunity with Magrini and Gonzalito Pieres running to goal, but a bouncing ball allowed Tonkawa to turn around the play. Withstanding the first Tonkawa run, a backhand from Caset set up Elizalde and he was able to hit the neck shot just inside the post to send Tonkawa into the shootout on Monday with Coca-Cola and Park Place to determine the last two semifinalists in the C.V. Whitney Cup®.

10-goaler Sapo Cast scored 5 goals for Tonkawa. ©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 27, 2021 – After La Indiana claimed the first spot in the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup®, three spots remained when the third round of play began on Saturday. Coca-Cola used a strong final two chukkers to capture the 13-10 victory over Santa Clara, while Park Place’s defense proved to be the difference in their 10-6 win against Cessna at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The first game of the day featured a back-and-forth match where each team held the lead after three chukkers, but it was Coca-Cola who finished the game on a 7-3 run to defeat Santa Clara. Shooting at goal 30 times, Coca-Cola produced consistent offense but shot just 27% with Santa Clara’s Felipe Vercellino keeping his team in the game with seven goals. Coca-Cola’s Nico Pieres responded with eight goals of his own, while the team effectively used Gillian Johnston in the front of the game to complete the 13-10 victory.

A quick pace was set in the opening chukker with eight combined shots as Santa Clara took the early 2-1 edge on two goals from Vercellino. The ball continued to move across the field with speed into the second chukker, but the field slanted in favor of Coca-Cola, who outshot Santa Clara 7-2, yet the score remained tied as Coca-Cola converted just one of the attempts on goal. Displaying a strategy of using Johnston in the #1 position, Coca-Cola produced seven shots for the second consecutive chukker, but inaccurate shooting held them from building a larger lead. Johnston converted two of her four attempts, leading to a slim 5-4 lead at halftime.

Taking advantage of Coca-Cola’s missed opportunities, Santa Clara swung the momentum back in their favor, retaking the lead in the fourth chukker on a Penalty 4 conversion from Vercellino and one field goal from Miguel Novillo Astrada. Relying on their 9-goaler Pieres, Coca-Cola continued their determined attack and increased their accuracy around goal to once again take the lead on the final play of the fifth chukker, Pieres’ fifth goal of the game. A quick response from Vercellino to start the sixth chukker tied the game for an incredible ninth time, leaving minutes remaining to determine the champion. Pieres and Julian de Lusarreta executed a two-man game for Coca-Cola throughout the sixth chukker that finally allowed them to take the lead for good, scoring four consecutive goals and capture the crucial 13-10 victory over Santa Clara.

Coca-Cola used a strong final two chukkers to capture the 13-10 victory over Santa Clara. ©Alex Pacheco

The second game of play in the C.V. Whitney Cup® displayed an organized Park Place defense that held Cessna to just two goals through the first four chukkers and kept them without a field goal until the sixth chukker. A combined team effort from Park Place saw all four players contribute offensively with Matt Coppola leading the way with a game-high four goals. Shooting just 17% from the field, Cessna could not match the balanced attack of Park Place in the 10-6 defeat.

Taking control from the opening chukker, Park Place built an early 3-0 lead behind the play of 10-goaler Ulloa, who added two field goals and an assist. Kept in their own half, Cessna struggled to generate an attack of their own, unable to maintain possession and get past the back line of Coppola and Ulloa. Coming forward from the #4 position, Coppola’s two goals in the second chukker extended his team’s lead to four as Cessna added two goals of their own on penalty conversions from Jared Zenni and Mariano Obregon. Ending the first half, Cessna failed to record a goal from the field and saw their deficit grow to five on Britos’ second goal of the game, a step behind Park Place throughout the first three chukkers.

Taking control from the opening chukker, Park Place built an early 3-0 lead. ©Alex Pacheco

Focused on mounting a comeback, Cessna began to find their footing in the second half, producing three shots at goal in the fourth chukker but were unable to convert any of their opportunities as they were held without a goal for the third time in four chukkers. Field goals were difficult to come by for both teams in the second half with defense stifling any attacks, resulting in zero combined field goals over both the fourth and fifth chukkers. Penalty conversions for Ulloa and Coppola pushed Park Place’s lead to six, leaving little chance of a Cessna comeback. Finally breaking their drought from the field, Cessna received field goals from Chip Campbell and Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, but they couldn’t get any closer than four, falling 10-6.

Penalty conversions for Ulloa and Coppola pushed Park Place’s lead to six. ©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 24, 2021 – The last day of bracket play in Brackets I and II in the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® saw Scone remain atop Bracket I, defeating Cessna 14-7, while Tonkawa grabbed a crucial 14-12 victory over Pilot thanks to the impressive 11-goal performance from Sapo Caset on the Isla Carroll East field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Returning to competition after the victory in Sunday’s feature 3 p.m. game, Scone used a dominant second half, outscoring Cessna 9-3 to capture their second decisive victory. It was Peke Gonzalez that stepped into the spotlight for Scone, leading all players with eight goals on accurate 75% shooting. The dynamic Scone attack overwhelmed Cessna in the later stages of the game behind an accurate passing attack from Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, with the duo combining for seven assists on 10 field goals. Cessna remained close in the opening half but conceded four penalties to Scone in the final two chukkers in the 14-7 defeat.

The first play of the game saw the father-son connection give Scone the 1-0 lead as Poroto found Adolfo on the end of a pass. Conceding only a Penalty 3 conversion to Jared Zenni, the first chukker went in favor of Scone with Adolfo coming forward to produce three goals on three shots. Withstanding the early run from Scone, Cessna responded with their best chukker of the game, scoring three unanswered goals, two of which were from Mariano Obregon to quickly turn a two-goal deficit into a one-goal lead. Scone’s early struggles from the penalty line led to them trailing towards the end of the first half, failing to convert either of two attempts, but their fortunes turned around by utilizing Gonzalez at the front of the game. Both Poroto and Adolfo set up goals for Gonzalez to hold the narrow 5-4 advantage.

The beginning of the second half featured Cessna fighting hard to match Scone, receiving a goal from Chip Campbell to keep pace, but the game ultimately changed in the fifth chukker. Leading by two, Scone’s Gonzalez had a memorable seven-minute stretch, scoring all four goals for Scone on perfect 2 for 2 shooting from the field and penalty line. Unable to slow the potent Scone attack, Cessna was left in their defensive end and pressured in front of goal, resulting in two Penalty 1’s awarded to Scone, who completed the 14-7 victory and improved to 2-0 in the C.V. Whitney Cup®.

Adolfo Cambiaso and David Paradice celebrate the team‘s victory. ©Alex Pacheco

A high-powered second match saw three 10-goalers on the field with Caset emerging as an unstoppable force for Tonkawa, finishing with 11 goals on 10 for 14 shooting from the field in the victory over Pilot. Substituting for Cody Ellis, Lucas Escobar faced his former team and excelled in pressuring brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres off the ball to free space for Caset and Elizalde to attack goal, which contributed to an 8-1 run over the third and fourth chukkers. Despite conceding five penalty goals to Pilot, Tonkawa’s efficient open play attack led them to the decisive victory and brought all three teams even with a 1-1 record in Bracket II.

Racing out of the gate, Pilot demonstrated their ability to score quickly, building a 4-1 lead inside the first seven minutes. Receiving two goals each from Facundo and Gonzalito, Pilot applied the pressure that resulted in four fouls committed by Tonkawa in the opening chukker. Focused on reducing the gap, Caset added two goals in the second chukker but Pilot continued to rely on the efficient two man-game of Facundo and Gonzalito that allowed them to maintain their three-goal advantage. Everything changed in the third chukker after Tonkawa unleashed an unrelenting attack, scoring six goals in a span of minutes led by the play of Caset. Accounting for five of the six goals, while assisting on the other, Caset displayed a flawless performance that switched the momentum in Tonkawa’s direction, giving them the 9-7 lead at halftime.

Lucas Escobar substituted for Cody Ellis. ©Alex Pacheco

Finding success with Escobar, Elizalde, and Hildebrand working tirelessly off the ball, Tonkawa controlled possession at the start of the second half to complete their 8-1 run after two more goals for Caset. Stunned, Pilot was held off the scoresheet from the field for the third consecutive chukker against an organized Tonkawa defense. After struggling to find the goal earlier in the game, Elizalde contributed with back-to-back goals, extending Tonkawa’s lead to five and leaving Pilot with little time for a comeback. A valiant effort from Facundo with three goals in the sixth chukker brought Pilot within two, but it was as close as they could come in the 14-12 defeat.

The last game of bracket play will see Aspen/Dutta Corp against La Indiana at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 25.

Francisco Elizalde and Sapo Caset following Tonkawa‘s win over Pilot. ©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 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®.

Wellington, FL – February 18, 2021 – The second day of play in the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) began with Santa Clara using a strong final chukker to narrowly defeat Cessna 12-10, while La Indiana and Park Place battled into overtime until Jeff Hall played the hero, securing the 15-14 victory for La Indiana to begin their 2021 season.

A competitive first game on the Isla Carroll East field saw contributions from all eight players on the scoresheet, producing an entertaining match that came down to the final minutes. Both teams converted nine shots from the field with the difference ultimately coming from the penalty line where Santa Clara’s Felipe Vercellino finished a perfect 3-for-3. After trailing throughout the game, a three-goal stretch for Cessna that carried into the sixth chukker gave them a chance at capturing the victory, but Santa Clara responded with the final three goals of the game to emerge victorious.

From the opening throw-in, the ball moved fast across the field with passing attacks prominent for both Santa Clara and Cessna. Converting all three attempts in the first chukker, Santa Clara held the 3-2 lead thanks to two goals from Luis Escobar. Joining Cessna for the first time, Jared Zenni added his second goal of the game as Cessna looked to pull even, but Vercellino was able to capitalize on a Penalty 4 while adding a goal from the field to keep Santa Clara ahead by one. Cessna continued to pressure Santa Clara, scoring two goals for the third consecutive chukker, but could not slow the offense of Santa Clara who inched further ahead behind the balanced team offense. One goal each from Vercellino, Escobar and Miguel Novillo Astrada gave Santa Clara the 8-6 lead at halftime.

Santa Clara defeated Cessna 12-10 in their first game of the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup®. ©Alex Pacheco

The fast-paced game carried into the second half with Will Johnston scoring his first goal of the game as Santa Clara and Cessna continued to trade goals, leaving just a two-goal difference on the scoreboard. Finding some momentum defensively, Cessna kept Santa Clara off the scoreboard in the fifth chukker, beginning a stretch of three unanswered goals that saw two goals from Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario. The third goal off the mallet of Zenni ignited Cessna as they grabbed the 10-9 lead in the sixth chukker, setting their sights on the victory. An immediate response from Astrada swung the momentum back in Santa Clara’s favor with the final minutes belonging to the team in red. Vercellino’s third penalty conversion was quickly followed by Johnston’s second goal of the game to secure the 12-10 victory.

Both of Thursday‘s games at IPC went into overtime. ©Alex Pacheco

The second overtime of the C.V. Whitney Cup® turned into a high-scoring contest between La Indiana and Park Place with the latter fighting back in the second half to challenge the recent 2020 USPA Gold Cup champions. Despite the 29 goals on the scoreboard, La Indiana and Park Place combined for just 27 shots while shooting above 60% in a game often seen in the semi-finals or final of any other tournament. The two 10-goalers in Polito Pieres and Hilario Ulloa led their respective teams offensively, but in a game decided by the narrowest of margins, it was the one-goal advantage on handicap for La Indiana that led them to victory.

With Leon Schwencke playing in place of Michael Bickford, La Indiana began with a one-goal lead on the scoreboard and quickly doubled it two on the opening throw-in goal from Nico Escobar. A dominant opening chukker saw La Indiana continue their strong play from last Sunday, receiving one goal each from Escobar, Pieres and Schwencke to put Park Place in a 4-1 deficit. Storming back with a four-goal chukker of their own, Juan Britos and Hilario Ulloa executed an excellent two-man game, scoring two goals each to bring Park Place back within one. The frantic pace slowed at the end of the first half as La Indiana and Park Place were held to one field goal each, leaving La Indiana holding the slim 7-6 lead.

After the rest at halftime, both teams came out firing to produce seven goals in seven minutes without a missed shot from the field or penalty line. Pieres led the way for La Indiana with three goals in the fourth chukker, while Park Place’s Ulloa responded with two of his own, but the scoring outburst allowed La Indiana to inch further ahead. La Indiana’s lead was short-lived as Park Place produced their first run of the game, holding La Indiana off the scoreboard while receiving two penalties in front of the goal to take the 12-11 lead into the sixth chukker. A standout player in the final chukker, Escobar stole the ball from Britos to tie the game at 12. A penalty 4 conversion for Pieres put La Indiana back in the lead but an impressive goal from distance by Ulloa sent the game into overtime.

Beginning with a throw-in just yards in front of Park Place’s goal, La Indiana won the throw-in to keep Park Place on defense. Jumping on a loose ball in front of goal, Hall scored the golden goal, sealing the 15-14 victory for La Indiana.

Hot off their 2020 USPA Gold Cup® victory, La Indiana celebrated a win over Park Place on Thursday. ©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®.