USPA FMB SILVER CUP

North America, Polo News

2021 USPA AMERICA CUP

12. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) – The final of the USPA America Cup, served as the subsidiary for the Silver Cup. The match featured defending champions Santa Clara (Federico Escobar, Lucas Escobar, Nico Escobar, Luis Escobar) against Bensoleimani.com (Ben Soleimani, Santiago Wulff, Ignacio “Iñaki” Laprida, Tomas Alberdi) on Sunday, August 8 at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Utilizing a family line-up, Santa Clara was in search of a second consecutive title, but ran into a determined Bensoleimani.com that overcame tough losses earlier in the season by changing their strategy and bringing Laprida forward in the game.

Entering the final with a one-goal advantage on handicap, Santa Clara used the opening chukker to extend the difference, beginning with a Penalty 2 conversion by Lucas Escobar. Santa Clara kept their lead at two, after Luis Escobar and Bensoleimani.com’s Laprida traded goals to end the first chukker. After facing three losses in the Silver Cup, all by just one or two goals, Bensoleimani.com were eager to snatch the victory, deploying Laprida at the front of the game attacking, leaving Wulff and Alberdi to man the defensive end.

The strategy proved to be effective as Bensoleimani.com produced six unanswered goals to finish the first half, beginning with two goals from Laprida in the second chukker on Open Kilovatio. Despite contributing on defense, Alberdi scored three straight opportunities at goal in the third chukker to leave Bensoleimani.com holding a 7-4 lead.

A competitive second half resulted in significant contributions from all eight players on the field, each finding the scoresheet. Nico Escobar helped end the drought for Santa Clara by accurately shooting to goal, scoring two field goals in the fourth chukker, but Bensoleimani.com’s Laprida continued to execute at the front of the game, matching the two goals to maintain the three-goal lead. Demonstrating unwavering resolve, Bensoleimani.com used the fifth chukker to cement their victory by playing end-to-end polo with Alberdi driving forward for two goals, while Soleimani added his first goal of the game.

“The second half of the game felt like we were all playing as a team” stated Soleimani, with Wulff also contributing a goal to give Bensoleimani.com the five-goal lead entering the final chukker. Santa Clara finished the game very strong with three consecutive field goals, but it was not enough to pull even with Bensoleimani.com, who raised the USPA America Cup® with a final score 14-11.

Finishing with five goals, Alberdi was named Most Valuable Player. The Team USPA Alumni explained the importance of the strategy shift for Bensoleimani.com, bringing Laprida forward in the game. “We switched it up a bit [at half] for Iñaki [Laprida] to be more upfront with the ball, which is our best player attacking and Santi [Wulff] and I switched up in the back, which I think really worked out.”

Best Playing Pony was awarded to Open Kilovatio (Ellerstina Picaro x Karenza), a thirteen-year-old Argentine dark bay gelding, owned by Ben Soleimani and played by Laprida in the second and sixth chukkers. Open Kilovatio was in Alberdi’s string for the earlier Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup games. “A few days ago, Tomy [Alberdi] came to me and said to try him…I played him in practice on Friday and it went well, so I played him again today and it went really well. I’m not giving him back [for the Pacific Coast Open],” he said with a smile. “He’s a big horse, a really strong horse and has the power to run. If you’re able to get a little bit of space to make a run, he’s the fastest one. Even though he’s bigger, you don’t mind him being that big and you feel like you are closer to the ground. The horse was suited well for today, running more and going forward.” – Cristina Fernandez; United States Polo Association

Photos by David Lominska

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SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) – The final of the USPA America Cup, served as the subsidiary for the Silver Cup. The match featured defending champions Santa Clara (Federico…

North America, Polo News

2021 USPA FMB SILVER CUP

12. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 8th, 2021) – One of the oldest United States Polo Association tournaments, the one-hundred-and-twenty-first edition of the Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup returned to the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. After three weeks of play, the gripping final on Sunday, August 8, came down to undefeated Klentner Ranch (Jake Klentner, Santiago Toccalino, Jesse Bray, Justin Klentner) and Farmers & Merchants Bank (Daniel Walker, Lucas Criado Jr., Lucas Criado Sr., Matthew Walker).

Klentner Ranch asserted themselves early, highlighted by the play of Bray. “We attack, we hit the ball hard and we run. We play simple polo and make sure all four players are involved,” said Bray, as he led the charge with two goals in the first chukker. Farmers & Merchants Bank were awarded a Penalty 1 in the opening stages of the second chukker, involving two of the seven total yellow cards issued during the match. The exceptional play of Criado Jr., scoring two field goals in the chukker, helped tie Farmers & Merchants Bank 3-all, but Justin Klentner scored before the horn sounded to restore a one-goal advantage for Klentner Ranch. High speed, running and open style play highlighted the third chukker, the teams alternating three goals each with back-and-forth action. “The more we ran, the better we knew we would play, ” stated Bray. Jacob Klentner and Matthew Walker added a final tally each to leave the score 7-6 in favor of Klentner Ranch entering halftime.

The frenetic pace carried into the second half with nine combined shots between the two teams in the fourth chukker, but it was Klentner Ranch’s accuracy, finishing fifty-three percent from the field, that allowed them to extend their lead. “We took advantage of the opportunities we had. I thought we shot to goal pretty well and our goal percentage was high,” stated Bray.

Teammate Toccalino pushed Klentner Ranch’s lead to three after hammering two field goals to end the chukker. Desperate to pull within reach, Farmers & Merchants Bank team owner Daniel Walker scored on the opening play of the fifth chukker, but Klentner Ranch responded with Bray’s third goal riding Cell Tower.

A tense final chukker resulted in Farmers & Merchants Bank pulling within one goal after consecutive Penalty 2 conversions from Criado Jr., but Klentner Ranch maintained a narrow lead. Emotions ran high as three yellow cards were issued in the last three minutes, but a final Penalty 4 conversion from Toccalino sealed the victory, as Klentner Ranch celebrated the 14-12 triumph. “I’m really happy they brought me to the team,” said Santiago Toccalino on joining the Klentner Ranch organization this year. “This organization is a great organization, it’s a family organization. I’ve been received really well and I’m really happy to be here.”

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Jesse Bray for his six-goal performance. Bray attributes much of his elevated play to 8-goal teammate Santiago Toccalino. “The way he can take control of the game is incredible. I’m learning a lot playing with him this summer…I think he has a really incredible mind for the game and the way he plays is similar to the way I think I can play. He definitely makes me play better.”

Bray’s eight-year-old thoroughbred mare Cell Tower, played in the first and fifth chukkers was named Best Playing Pony. “I bought her as a four-year-old from Matthew Gonzalez. Last year was her first season of high goal. I feel very comfortable on her and know I can win any play I go to. She’s strong, has a really nice mouth and a lot of speed, those are her best attributes. She is a very complete mare”. – Cristina Fernandez; United States Polo Association

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our website, www.sbpolo.com.

Photos by David Lominska

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SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 8th, 2021) – One of the oldest United States Polo Association tournaments, the one-hundred-and-twenty-first edition of the Farmers & Merchants Bank Silver Cup returned to the…

North America, Polo News

2021 USPA FMB SILVER CUP & 2021 AMERICA CUP

6. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) This weekend determined the teams qualified for the semi-finals of the USPA FMB Silver Cup to take place this Friday and the finals for the America Cup to take place on Sunday. All six teams had a lot on the line during these Sunday games so they all came out full force with something to prove.

The morning game took place at 10 AM between Lucchese and Antelope. Both teams needed to win to help their standing for the semi finals. Lucchese put the first two goals on the board with some dynamic polo between Keko Magrini and Jeff Hall. Penalty shots helped keep Antelope in the game with two conversions from Tomas Garcia Del Rio in the first half. After the third chukker, Lucchese had an advantage over Antelope 5-3. Antelope had a comeback in the fourth chukker with a beautiful goal from Grant Palmer and two more goals from Del Rio. However, Lucchese had a goal from each player in the fifth chukker to put them in the lead yet again. The final score was 12-9 to Lucchese.

The second game between Farmers and Merchants Bank and Klentner Ranch already had both teams secure in the semi-finals. Regardless, they both still fought it out for bragging rights and confidence. FMB took the lead in the first half 7-6. But, Klentner Ranch turned it on in the second half, especially Santiago Toccalino, with seven goals by himself in three chukkers. The result was 16-11 to Klentner Ranch.

The featured match at 4 PM had BenSoleimani.com vs. Santa Clara. Juan Curbelo took the place of Luis Escobar on the family team of Santa Clara. BenSoleimani.com had a good first half by capitalizing on the new team makeup of Santa Clara by catching them on some fouls and converting four penalty shots. After a good half-time pep-talk, Santa Clara came back in the fourth chukker with two goals from Juan Curbelo and a penalty conversion from Lucas Escobar. It came down to the last chukker with some very strong play from Santa Clara that won them the game 11-10.

At the end of these three games, Klentner Ranch will face off against Antelope and FMB will go up against Lucchese for the USPA FMB Silver Cup semifinals. The finals of the America Cup on Sunday will be between Santa Clara and BenSoleimani.com.

www.sbpolo.com

Photos by David Lominska /Polograpics.com

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SANTA BARBARA, CA. (August 1st, 2021) This weekend determined the teams qualified for the semi-finals of the USPA FMB Silver Cup to take place this Friday and the finals for…

North America, Polo News

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club: 2021 USPA FMB SILVER CUP

5. August 2021

SANTA BARBARA, CA. (July 25th, 2021) The historic Silver Cup began with the first round of play on Sunday, July 25th. This tournament dates back to the year 1900 when it was first played and originally established as the Junior Championship. The Santa Barbara Polo Club has now hosted the Silver Cup many times throughout its 121 year history, but this will be its second consecutive year after it took place on the East Coast for two years. Farmers and Merchants Bank is sponsoring the tournament this year and it is also a USPA National Tournament.

The first two teams to face off in the USPA FMB Silver Cup were Klentner Ranch and Santa Clara. Santi Toccalino cut right to the chase with a goal for Klentner Ranch out of the lineup in the first chukker. Over the rest of the half, both teams battled it out, goal for goal, to finish the third chukker tied five all. Santa Clara had some difficulties with no goals in the fourth and fifth chukker, which let Klentner Ranch take a lead. Dynamic brother duo of Lucas and Nico Escobar scored three goals in the last chukker, but not it was not quite enough to secure a win. Klentner Ranch won the game 11-8.

The second game of the day was Lucchese vs. BenSoleimani.com, with a substitution of Carlos Leiva (one goal in handicap) for John Muse on the Lucchese team. The first half went by quickly with lots of goals and fast play. Facundo Obregon capitalized off of his penalty shots, converting six penalties total for Lucchese. On BenSoleimani.com, the eponymous patron, Ben Soleimani, had a great game scoring three field goals throughout the match. In the end, the experienced Lucchese team took the win 15-13 from the exciting, high scoring game.

The featured match at 4 PM had Antelope vs. Farmers and Merchants Bank. Thirteen year old Paquito de Narvaez substituted for Daniel Walker on FMB. This game had intense play with less goals and more defense. Tomas Garcia Del Rio did get the first goal of the game but the half ended with the low score of 3-2 to Antelope. FMB came back in the second half with four goals from Luqitas Criado alone to tie, Paquito de Narvaez showed talent beyond his years in scoring the game winning goal with under a minute left. The final score went to FMB, 8-7 after a close game.

www.sbpolo.com