Team USPA Players Help Push USA to Perfect 2-0 Record in Zone Playoffs
held at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic
May 11, 2011 (Wellington, Fla.) – Team USA has advanced to the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Championships after defeating Canada 10-8 to complete the FIP Zone A Playoffs in the Dominican Republic. Six Team USPA players, along with team captain John Gobin and guided by coach Charlie Muldoon, were undefeated in the tournament with wins over Canada and Guatemala, and will now look to keep the momentum going as they advance to the FIP World Championships in San Luis, Argentina this fall.
Canada was up three goals after two chukkers in the match against the U.S. team, but the U.S. team fought back to tie the game up in the fourth. Team USA then built a 4-goal lead going into the final chukker and never looked back. John Gobin was named MVP thanks to an outstanding performance in the win over Canada as well as the team’s earlier victory against Guatemala. The team also received excellent supporting efforts from Team USPA players Mason Wroe, Chris Collins and Nick Snow.
With the exception of Gobin, the USA team was carefully selected from the Team USPA program. Team USPA was established in 2009 to grow and sustain the sport of polo by identifying talented young American players and providing opportunities to grow their abilities.
“We are thrilled with the team’s performance in the FIP zone playoffs and with everything that this win says about polo’s growth and progression in the U.S.,” said Peter Rizzo, executive director of the U.S. Polo Association. “With the impressive development of our young polo players and the Team USPA program, we know the team has a chance to do something very special at this year’s World Championships.”
Team USPA continues to be instrumental in encouraging USPA programs and events that will recruit, train and develop American players and teams to the fullest measure of excellence. This includes advancing young players to compete in international events on behalf of the U.S., participation in national and circuit USPA tournaments and working to enhance the handicap level of play for competitors at every stage of experience.
About U. S. Polo Association
The U.S. Polo Association was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts. For more information, please visit, www.uspolo.org.