Whitney Cup

Going up against the only undefeated team in the tournament captained by the formidable Adolfo Cambiaso, Park Place (Matt Coppola*, Hilario Ulloa, Juan Britos, Jack Whitman*) knew there could be no margin for error in the C.V. Whitney Cup® Final against Scone (David Paradice, Adolfo Cambiaso, Poroto Cambiaso, Peke Gonzalez*). Meeting on Sunday, March 7, on the U.S. Polo Assn. Field 1, the two teams found themselves locked in a tight and passionate game from start to finish, never separated by more than a goal each chukker. Forcing the game into overtime with under a minute remaining, Park Place relentlessly fought to score the golden goal, claiming not only the title 11-10 and $100,000, but their place as the only 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® contenders.

“This win means the world to us, it’s literally a dream come true. I wish Andrey [Borodin] could have been here today. He’d be so proud of his team.” – Ashley Price, Park Place Team Manager

Firing at Park Place’s goal within the first couple minutes, Scone looked to establish a lead early on, igniting a defensive battle throughout the first half. Receiving a nearside neckshot pass from Adolfo Cambiaso, Gonzalez made a breakaway to score the first field goal of the day. Winning the next throw-in and answering back with an immediate goal, Whitman’s quick response proved to be a precursor of the back-and-forth action to come.

Playing halfway through the second without a goal from either side, Scone added one to the tally to break the tie for the first time 3-2. Exercising precision from the Penalty 4 line, Adolfo Cambiaso’s third chukker goal was met by a strong offensive force led by Ulloa. “We tried to keep possession of the ball and keep it away from Cambiaso, but I think we were playing a bit slowly at the beginning,” Ulloa commented. “Chukker by chukker we found a way to open up the game, hit long shots and run a bit more.” Relying on his young teammates who took out the defenders, Ulloa claimed two impressive goals to once again level the playing field 4-all in the final minute before halftime.

As the intensity of the game increased with each successive chukker, both sides continued to trade goals but were unsuccessful in creating much of a lead in the second half. Sticking to his man, Whitman held off Scone long enough for Ulloa to take the ball around the pack and score in the fourth. Positioned to make the assist, Adolfo Cambiaso hit the ball up to his son who made a strong cutshot to regain the advantage.

Claiming three consecutive goals in the fifth, Park Place played with offensive prowess, Britos stealing possession from Poroto Cambiaso to pick up his first goal of the game. Entering the sixth 8-7, Park Place’s lead quickly evaporated by an opening goal from Adolfo Cambiaso. Closing in on the final two minutes of regulation time, Gonzalez made a run to goal which put the pressure on Park Place to act fast. Supreme under pressure, Ulloa hit the ball through traffic to tie the game up 10-all with 10 seconds to spare.

The electrifying overtime chukker proved to be just as heated as regulation, both sides coming close to their mark. Nearing the end of the seventh, Park Place’s Ulloa hit a deep neckshot out of the pack to Whitman who ran the golden goal between the posts with 2:40 on the clock. “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking at all!” Whitman shared. “Hilario [Ulloa] hit the pass down the boards and I just went for it!”

“Goal of a lifetime, game of a lifetime, opportunity of a lifetime!” – Jack Whitman

In addition to the title, Park Place received $100,000 in prize money while Scone was awarded $25,000 as the runners-up. This year’s GAUNTLET OF POLO® in partnership with USPA Global Licensing embraced the spirit of giving with non-profit charities chosen by the finalists also receiving a donation. Park Place chose to divide the $5,000 between Polo Players Support Group (PPSG) and Relay Polo while Scone contributed their total $5,000 to PPSG.

Competing for Park Place in the English season, Ulloa has wanted this win for several years. “I’ve been working with Park Place for four years,” Ulloa said. “We lost two finals of the Cartier Queen’s Cup and it was tough for me. I wanted to win a tournament with Park Place and luckily after putting in the hard work the results came. I want to thank Andrey [Borodin] for trusting me, he has been a big support in my career.” “This is our third season in the United States,” Price said. “Year one every single horse was playing their first season, then year two everything was canceled due to COVID-19 and we unfortunately had a few injuries. Now we’re in year three and off to a fantastic start.”

An impressive team effort, Park Place’s win was made possible in large part to their strong team chemistry. “We believed in our organization, teammates and the system we wanted to play and today it paid off for us,” Britos said. “It was a very physical final and Scone did a great job, so I think it was one of the best games of the entire tournament, no doubt. It was anyone’s game, but we got a bit luckier at the end.” 

Substituting for team owner Andrey Borodin, 16-year-old Whitman received the opportunity of a lifetime when Ulloa invited him to play for Park Place. “I was a little nervous! Just to play in the C.V. Whitney Cup® is an amazing opportunity, but to make it to the final is incredible!” Whitman said. “The organization, our coach Julio Arellano and everyone from Park Place has been so supportive. Andrey [Borodin] has also been amazing helping me with everything and I want to thank him for giving me this unbelievable opportunity.”

Responsible for the game-winning goal, Jack Whitman was named Most Valuable player. “Goal of a lifetime, game of a lifetime, opportunity of a lifetime!” Whitman exclaimed. “He played amazing the whole tournament, not just in the final, and he was very grateful for the opportunity,” Britos added about Whitman. “He’s a great kid all around, he rides well, plays well—he’s the whole package. Today he scored a goal which I’m sure he’ll never forget for the rest of his life.”

Best Playing Pony honors were presented to eight-year-old Lavinia Heroica (Lavinia Naipe x Lavinia Heroina), an Argentine homebred chestnut mare owned and played by Hilario Ulloa in the fourth and seventh chukkers. “I played her [Lavinia Heroica’s] grandmother when I was 1 goal until I was 9 goals,” Ulloa said. “I played her for nine consecutive years in the Open and then I played her daughter for four or five years in the Argentine Open. This is the third generation I’m able to play so my family and I are really happy. Lavinia Heroica made her 22-goal debut this season and she has continued to improve game after game.”

Having close to one hundred horses in work, Park Place has continued to build and refine their strings to be competitive as an organization. “It’s literally a dream to win this tournament and to beat a team like Scone,” Price said. “It’s an unbelievable team and they’re really well mounted! We’ve been working every year to improve our horsepower.”

Whitman will begin the USPA Gold Cup® with Park Place until Borodin arrives in the coming weeks, but he has already learned so much. “It’s incredible how fast these top players think and the speed at which they play,” Whitman shared. “I’m playing two of my horses and honestly it’s amazing to know that they are able to play a game like this and are able to keep up!”

Moving forward with the ultimate goal of being named GAUNTLET champions, Park Place is focusing on the long game. “This is just the beginning,” Ulloa said. The teams will come back stronger in the USPA Gold Cup® including many good teams that didn’t have the chance because of the shootout. We know it’s still a long road ahead and we have to focus game after game, but we’re definitely headed in the right direction.” 

The GAUNTLET OF POLO® continues with the USPA Gold Cup® beginning Monday, March 8, with Coca-Cola taking on Santa Clara at 3:00pm ET. All games will be livestreamed on Global Polo TV.

*Peke Gonzalez and Jack Whitman are Active Team USPA Members. Matt Coppola is a Graduating Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

Wellington, FL – March 7, 2021 – The highly-anticipated conclusion of the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® did not disappoint on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1 as Park Place and Scone battled into overtime to determine the champion of the first leg in the Gauntlet of Polo® and the $100,000 prize. In a hard-fought, physical game where each team had their opportunities to raise the trophy, it was Hilario Ulloa who found Jack Whitman on the sideboards as he raced past David Paradice to send the ball through the goal and begin the exhilarating celebration for Park Place with the memorable 11-10 victory.

Scone entered the final with an undefeated 4-0 record but ran into a determined Park Place team that made them fight for each possession in an evenly matched contest. With the score never more than one goal apart after each chukker, the final was destined to go into overtime between Scone and Park Place, sporting nearly identical stats. Ulloa led Park Place offensively with seven goals while Scone received four goals each from Adolfo Cambiaso and Peke Gonzalez, but the game was ultimately decided by the smallest of margins in a classic at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC).

A Penalty 4 conversion for Ulloa set an early tone for Park Place as they looked to hand Scone their first loss, matching the Cambiaso-led team stride for stride in the opening chukker. Whitman provided a response to Gonzalez’s first goal, leaving the teams tied at 2-2 after the first seven minutes. Defense was a key component of both team’s journey to the final and it was on display early as Scone held Park Place off the scoresheet in the second chukker, while Poroto Cambiaso accounted for the only goal to inch Scone ahead. After successfully keeping Scone off the penalty line in the first two chukkers, Place Place conceded their first Penalty 4 to Adolfo Cambiaso, as they faced their first two-goal deficit of the game, but before the end of the half, Hilario changed the momentum heading into halftime, scoring back-to-back goals to tie the game at 4-4.

Throughout the game, the teams were always within one goal of each other to make for an exciting final match-up. ©Alex Pacheco

Each push Scone made in the game was met by a resilient Park Place team that wouldn’t let Scone’s lead grow, despite the best efforts of their three-pronged attack of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, alongside Gonzalez. Asserting himself in the opening stages of the second half, Adolfo Cambiaso scored and then set up son Poroto for a two-goal fourth chukker that restored their one-goal advantage. In arguably their best chukker of the game, Park Place applied relentless pressure with Juan Britos scoring his only two goals of the game in a crucial run of three unanswered goals that left them ahead by one with one chukker remaining. With everyone on the edge of their seats, the final chukker displayed the elite level of play seen throughout the final, trading goals back and forth until Gonzalez picked up the ball on the nearside and put Scone ahead by one with 50 seconds left. In desperate need of a goal, Ulloa won the throw-in and drove downfield against a Scone defense that was desperately trying to complete the victory. Placing the ball in front of goal, Britos left it for Ulloa and he converted the neckshot with time expiring to send the game into overtime.

Park Place secured the win thanks to an overtime goal that pushed the score to 11-10. ©Alex Pacheco

A thrilling overtime chukker carried on for nearly five minutes with each team having their opportunities to claim victory. Scone had the first chance on a run to goal from Poroto Cambiaso, but the shot attempt went just wide as Park Place reorganized. Producing a chance of their own, Park Place’s Matt Coppola worked the ball in front of Scone’s goal but the ball rolled just outside the post, leaving the tense overtime chukker to continue. After thwarting another Scone attack, Ulloa found Whitman downfield and a perfectly hit shot from Whitman placed the ball in front of Scone’s goal. Racing past his defender, Whitman confidently hit the ball through and began the Park Place celebration as they were crowned the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® champions.

For his overtime heroics, Whitman was awarded Most Valuable Player, while Best Playing Pony went to Hilario Ulloa’s Lavina Heroica. Crio Polo Argentino (Argentine Bred) Best Playing Pony was given to Mega Big Bay, owned by Lerin Zubiaurre and played by Juan Britos.

Park Place‘s Jack Whitman, pictured with Stewart Armstrong, Chairman of the United States Polo Association, was awarded Most Valuable Player. ©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 3, 2021 – Four teams remained in the semifinals of the 2021 C.V. Whitney Cup® as Coca-Cola, Park Place, La Indiana, and Scone battled for a spot in the final and a chance to claim the $100,000 prize. In the first semifinal, Park Place dominated the middle of the game, going on an 11-1 run against Coca-Cola to cruise to the 13-9 victory. In a match-up between the two undefeated teams in the tournament, Scone handed La Indiana their first loss of the season, capturing the 13-8 victory to meet Park Place in the final.

A well-rounded Park Place performance saw them control possession in open play, outscoring Coca-Cola 10-2 from the field over the first five chukkers while also playing disciplined polo, keeping Coca-Cola off the penalty line. The transition from defense to offense for Park Place, led by a strong passing attack from Hilario Ulloa and Matt Coppola continued to keep Coca-Cola pinned in their own half, while Coca-Cola managed just 20% shooting up until the final chukker in the 13-9 defeat.

A competitive first few minutes saw Nico Pieres and Juan Britos trade early field goals to leave the score tied, until Pieres struck again for Coca-Cola on a Penalty 2 conversion. Both teams had their opportunities to score in the remainder of the first chukker, but the final four shots of the chukker were missed, leaving the score at 2-1 in favor of Coca-Cola. The momentum switched to Park Place due to the play of Ulloa, who scored three consecutive goals for Park Place while a team effort held Coca-Cola off the scoreboard and pressured Nico Pieres on the ball. Building a 4-2 lead, Park Place extended it further to a three-goal advantage before the end of the half as Pieres was the only goal scorer for Coca-Cola, scoring his third. Adding a Penalty 4 conversion along with a field goal from Britos, Park Place held the 6-3 lead at halftime.

Matt Coppola contributed to the victory by leading Park Place‘s defense and scoring three goals. ©Alex Pacheco

Park Place’s defense became a key factor in their dominant stretch to begin the second half, scoring the first six goals to leave Coca-Cola trailing by nine. Coppola was a standout player for Park Place, anchoring the defense while finding his opportunities to come forward, scoring all three goals in the fourth chukker. Held without a field goal for the second consecutive chukker, Coca-Cola ended the 11-1 run on back-to-back Penalty 3 conversions from Pieres, but it still left them facing a seven-goal deficit with one chukker remaining. One goal from each Coca-Cola player in the sixth chukker brought them within four, but Park Place’s impressive performance pushed them into the final, awaiting the winner of the second semifinal.

Two of the top offenses in the tournament in La Indiana and Scone met to decide the final spot in the final in a highly anticipated match that was ultimately controlled by Scone. Holding the strong La Indiana attack to 18% shooting in the second half and 10-goaler Polito Pieres to just two goals, Scone used their trio of Adolfo Cambiaso, Poroto Cambiaso, and Peke Gonzalez in a persistent attack that never let up. Gonzalez finished with a game-high seven goals, on the receiving end of accurate passes from Adolfo Cambiaso, while Scone took advantage of all four opportunities from the penalty line to capture the 13-8 victory.

Scone and La Indiana possess two of the strongest offenses in the tournament. ©Alex Pacheco

Breaking through on the first play of the game, Nico Escobar gave La Indiana the 1-0 lead, but it would ultimately be their only lead of the game as Scone responded with a goal and an assist from Poroto Cambiaso as part of a three-goal first chukker to hold the 3-1 advantage. With Adolfo Cambiaso effectively directing play from the back, Poroto Cambiaso and Gonzalez continued to charge forward, adding another goal each as La Indiana was unable to pull closer, remaining down by two after goals from Escobar and Pieres. Averaging 15.5 goals through their first two games, La Indiana was limited to just four goals in the first half as Scone controlled possession in the attacking half and relied on the offense of Gonzalez, who added his fourth and fifth goals to give Scone the 7-4 lead.

In need of offense, La Indiana produced a determined effort towards Scone’s goal but struggled with inaccurate shooting in the opening stages of the second half, unable to convert any of their six attempts at goal. Slowly extending their lead, Adolfo Cambiaso made a significant impact for Scone by adding two goals in the fourth chukker and headlining a four-goal fifth chukker that proved to be the decisive moment of the game. Gonzalez brought his goal total to seven in one of his best performances of the season, while Scone continued their strong debut in the Gauntlet of Polo®, keeping La Indiana at a distance in the final chukker to remain undefeated with the 13-8 victory.

Scone used their trio of Adolfo Cambiaso (above), Poroto Cambiaso, and Peke Gonzalez to secure the victory over La Indiana. ©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 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®.