BTA, New Bridge La Dolfina Reach Final of Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier this Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club
BTA – Kelly Beal (1), Daniel Roenisch (5), Jeff Hall (8), Fred Mannix Jr. (7)
New Bridge La Dolfina – Russ McCall (0), Matias Magrini (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), Martin Valent (3)
WELLINGTON, FL (February 14, 2007) – Seven-goaler Fred Mannix Jr. provided last-minutes heroics for the second consecutive game, this time scoring on a short forehand with 33 seconds remaining to lift BTA over Privilege/Gracida International 16-15 in the semifinals of the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
BTA will play defending champion New Bridge La Dolfina, which rallied to beat Laurence-Wallace 15-14 for its 19th consecutive victory.
The final of the Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
It was BTA’s second consecutive victory by one goal, and both times they let big leads slip away.
“We never give up,” said Hall. “The last two were scrappers that shouldn’t have been but I’ll take the wins.”
Privilege/Gracida International took a 15-13 lead on Kris Kampsen’s 30-yard penalty shot with 5:20 remaining.
Jeff Hall cut the margin to 15-14 when he dribbled down the middle with 4:01 left. Mannix tied the game with 1:30 left when he converted a 5-yard penalty from outside the left post.
On the ensuing possession, Hall was caught in traffic about 50 yards from goal when Mannix came from behind, took the ball and dribbled toward goal with 9-goaler Carlos Gracida defending.
“It was the right timing and it was just like the last game,” said Mannix. “I was even on the same horse. I knew time was running out but I couldn’t waste a shot from the corner so I had to dribble toward the goal. Luckily, I made the shot.”
BTA led 13-9 before Privilege/Gracida International scored five unanswered goals, three by Kampsen, in the fifth chukker to take a 14-13 lead.
“It’s tough being up by four goals,” said Hall. “I don’t know what happened. They caught us sleeping. They changed a few things and we were loose on the man (on defense). It took us a chukker-and-a-half to catch up.”
Mannix Jr. led BTA (4-0) with nine goals while Hall finished with three, Daniel Roenisch added two and patron Kelly Beal scored one. BTA also received a goal by handicap at the start of the game.
Kampsen led Privilege/Gracida International (3-1) with six goals while Carlos Gracida added five goals and Roberto Gonzales scores four goals. Julio Gracida replaced Gonzales midway through the fifth chukker when he injured an arm after getting hit by an opponent’s mallet. Carlitos Gracida did not score.
Privilege/Gracida International converted 10-of-13 penalty shots, but missed two in the final chukker, a 60-yarder and a 30-yarder. BTA made eight-of-nine penalty shots, missing a 30-yarder in the third chukker.
New Bridge La Dolfina is now 21-1 over the last two seasons at International Polo Club, but this might have been the closest the streak has come to ending.
Laurence-Wallace took a 13-11 lead on Luis Escobar’s 40-yard penalty shot early in the sixth chukker before New Bridge La Dolfina took control, scoring four consecutive goals.
Adolfo Cambiaso scored a team-high eight goals, but it was his two penalty shots, one from 30-yards and one from 60 yards, that gave New Bridge La Dolfina a 15-13 lead late in the game. A goal by Pelon Escapite in the final seconds rounded out the scoring.
“We were just playing, there was never pressure on us because we were winning,” said 9-goaler Matias Magrini of New Bridge La Dolfina. “We weren’t over-confident. They’re a good team and Elizabeth (Iorio) made a huge difference. She took Facha (Martin Valent) out of the game. They didn’t allow Adolfo to get possession of the ball. But in the last chukker, we talked to each other and Adolfo was able to get the ball. It’s a good taste to win and be in another final.”
Magrini finished with four goals, Valent added two goals and patron Russ McCall scored one goal for New Bridge La Dolfina (4-0).
Nine-goaler Mike Azzaro led Laurence-Wallace (2-2) with seven goals while Pelon Escapite added four goals and Luis Escobar scored two goals. Patron Elizabeth Iorio did not score.
The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s, bringing the sport to the forefront in Palm Beach County. A former Chairman of the USPA, Ylvisaker was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.
The polo matches are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Past champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina defeated Skeeterville 15-14
2005 – Pony Express defeated Airstream 11-6
2004 – Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 13-8
2003 – C Spear defeated Outback 11-9
Wednesday’s results — Semifinals
BTA 16, Privilege/Gracida International 15
New Bridge La Dolfina 15, Laurence-Wallace 14
Sunday’s schedule – Championship match
BTA vs. New Bridge La Dolfina, 3 p.m.