By Alex Webbe
Audi Beat White Birch 11-9 while Las Monjitas bested Orchard Hill 12-10 to win the right to appear in Sunday’s 2009 United States Open Championship’s Finals at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Seven goals by Audi 10-goaler Facundo Pieres led the Audi assault of a talented White Birch lineup in the final semifinal match of this year’s United States Open championship. In a defensive oriented first chukker, Facundo Pieres accounted for the only goal of the game on a penalty shot. Brother Nicolas Pieres made it 2-0, Audi, in the second period on a goal from the field.
Pancho Bensadon finally got White Birch on the scoreboard with a penalty conversion to end the chukker with Audi on top, 2-1.
Three consecutive goals from Facundo Pieres opened the third chukker, but two goals from Bensadon cut the lead to 5-3 at the half.
“They are a very difficult team,” said Facundo Pieres, “I wasn’t sure about the win until the final minute of the game,” he added.
The two teams swapped goals in the fourth chukker. Facundo added two more goals for Audi while Rob Stenzel scored twice for White Birch. Audi continued to hold the lead, 7-5.
Audi began to stretch its lead in the fifth with two goals from Nicolas Pieres and a single goal from brother Gonzalito Pieres. White Birch came back with single goals from Bensadon and 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre. Audi continued to lead, 10-7.
“I felt that it was a good game,” said Nicolas Pieres, “we played well when we had to,” he said.
Facundo scored his seventh goal of the game on a penalty shot as White Birch continued to press the Audi goal. Two goals from Bensadon cut the lead to 11-9, but there was no time left. The final bell sounded with Audi taking the game and moving into Sunday’s finals.
In earlier US Open semifinal action, Las Monjitas made its way to its second US Open final in two years on the strength of a 12-10 win over a strong Orchard Hills team.
Tight play had the score tied at 4-4 after the first two chukkers and 6-6 at halftime.
Orchard Hill took an 8-7 lead after the fourth chukker on goals from 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough and Lucas Criado. Nacho Astrada converted a penalty shot for the only goal for Las Monjitas that chukker.
Orchard Hill was leading 9-8 going into the final chukker when the wheels came off the wagon.
Two goals from Adam Snow and single goals from Eduardo Astrada and brother Nacho Astrada were answered by a single goal from MacDonough. The final bell sounded for a Las Monjitas victory, 12-10, and a berth in the 2009 US Open finals against Audi.
PONY EXPRESS WINS HALL OF FAME CUP
Pony Express needed overtime to down Black Watch 11-10 in the finals of the 2009 Hall of Fame Cup Thursday morning at the International Polo Club.
In a back and forth contest that was tied on several different occasions, the teams ended regulation play locked in a 10-10 tie,
Black Watch had first crack at the win with a 30-yard penalty shot, but the attempt went wide. Moments later, Nick Roldan made good on a 40-yard shot for the 11-10 overtime win.
Sugar Erskine’s mare Barracuda was named Best Playing Pony (Black Watch) while Pony Express 8-goaler Nick Roldan was named MVP.