L-R-Jeff Hall and Jesse Bray battle for control of the club, (Photo by Alex Pacheco)
With members of a US FIP polo team still trying to work out the wrinkles before competing for the Zone Qualifier next month, Team USPA (Jared Sheldon, Patrick Uretz, Mason Wroe, Felipe Viana and Jesse Bray) managed to score their first win of the fall over a talent-laden PB Equine/PB Polo team (Glenn Straub, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan and Scott Swerdlin) Tuesday afternoon at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.
Team USPA received one goal by handicap, and doubled it with a goal from the field from Patrick Uretz in the opening minutes of the first chukker, 2-0. Jeff Hall converted a penalty shot for PB Equine/PB Polo. The chukker ended with Team USPA on top of a 2-1 led.
In a defensively-oriented second period Mason Wroe accounted for the only score of the chukker. With two chukkers behind them Team USPA led 3-1.
Jared Sheldon scored twice for Team USPA in the second. Nic Roldan countered with a goal from the field. At the end of the first half, Team USPA enjoyed a three goal lead, 5-2.
Nick Roldan opened the fourth chukker with a goal from the field, 5-3, but Team USPA answered right back. Goals from Jesse Bray and Mason Wroe closed out the period with Team USPA leading by four goals, 7-3.
PB Equine/PB Polo stepped up their defense in the fifth and added a veteran offensive punch to it as well. Roldan’s third goal of the day cut the lead to three goals, 7-4, and consecutive goals from Jeff Hall had Team USPA holding on to a one goal lead, 7-6, as the chukker ended.
Both teams concentrated on defense in the final seven minutes of play. Jesse Bray managed to slip through the PB Equine/PB Polo defenders to score the only goal of the chukker for an 8-6 win.
Hall and Roldan scored three goals apiece for PB Equine/PB Polo in a losing effort. A balanced Team USPA attack saw Jared Sheldon, Mason Wroe and Jesse Bray score two goals apiece. Patrick Uretz was credited with a goal and the team received one goal by handicap.