By Alex Webbe
Rocco’s Tacos staved off a second half rally by Black Watch to score an 8-7 in the finals of the USPA Grand Champions Polo Club’s Spring Challenge Cup.
The club’s spring tournament was sponsored by Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar in West Palm Beach, and is the last in a series of 14-18 goal tournaments in Wellington.
Led by four goals from the game MVP, Diego Arellano, Rocco’s Tacos jumped out to an early 6-1 lead after the first two chukkers of play.
Single goals from Martin Pepa in the first chukker and a penalty conversion by Neil Hirsch in the third period were the extent of the Black Watch offense in the first half of play.
Rocco’s Tacos took advantage of one goal by handicap, four goals from Arellano and single goals from Kris Kampsen and team captain Melissa Ganzi to charge out to a 7-2 halftime lead.
An anemic Black Watch managed just three goals in the fourth and fifth chukkers, but a resolute defense held Rocco’s Tacos scoreless. Black Watch trailed 7-5.
Gonzalo Del Tour’s second goal of the game was followed by a scoring effort from Pepa, and the game was tied at 7-7.
Rocco’s Tacos made a last minute dash to the Black Watch goal when a defensive foul offered Rocco’s Tacos an easy penalty shot. Kampsen converted the shot for the winning goal.
Diego Arellano led all scoring with four goals. Kris Kampsen scored twice and Melissa Ganzi scored a goal in the win. Rocco’s Tacos received one goal by handicap.
Hector Galindo scored once for Black Watch while teammates Neil Hirsch, Martin Pepa and Gonzalo Del Tour scored two goals apiece.
NEWPORT 9, PONY EXPRESS 8
Marc Ganzi scored the winning goal in overtime as Newport slipped past a rejuvenated Pony Express foursome on the way to a 9-8 win in the consolation round of the Spring Challenge Cup Friday afternoon.
Newport received one goal by handicap and quickly added to it on single goals from Marc Ganzi and Tommy Biddle to take an early 4-0 lead.
Pony Express bounced back in the second chukker as J. J. Celis scored twice and Brad Blake converted a penalty shot for a goal. Newport led 4-3 after two chukkers.
Pony Express shut down the Newport attack for the second consecutive chukker, adding goals by J. J. Celis, game MVP Bob Daniels and Steve Dalton to take a 6-4 lead at the end of the first half.
Newport’s Marc Ganzi opened the scoring in the second half with a goal, but was quickly by bob Daniels on a beautifully placed 80 yard neck shot just yards from the end line. Newport came back with a well-executed near-side neck shot in front of the goal by Gene Goldstein, and the chukker ended with Pony Express on top of a 7-6 score.
Dalton’s second goal of the game gave Pony Express an 8-6 advantage before goals from Tommy Biddle and Gene Goldstein knotted it at 8-8.
A scoreless sixth chukker forced the game into overtime where Ganzi’s third goal of the game delivered the win to Newport, 9-8.
Marc Ganzi led the Newport scoring with three goals. Teammates Tommy Biddle and Gene Goldstein added two goals apiece. Newport received two goals by handicap.
J. J. Celis led the Pony Express attack with three goals. Brad Blake scored once and Bob Daniels and Steve Dalton each added two goals in the loss.
The tournament brings an end to the Grand Champions Polo Club’s spring season. Tournament is slated to crank up again in the fall.