By Alex Webbe
Audi team captain Melissa Ganzi scored two goals in the opening chukker in leading her team to an 8-7 win over Elangeni Ranch Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Polo Gear-RoxWorld TV Invitational on the grounds of the Palm City Polo club in Boca Raton, Florida.
Audi spotted the 12-goal Elangeni Ranch team two goals to start but then ran up three straight goals to take an early 3-2 lead. Melissa Ganzi scored two of the first chukker goals with Juan Bollini accounting for the third score.
Play was fast-paced in the second chukker Audi shut out Elangeni Ranch for the second consecutive period while picking up another goal from Bollini. After two chukkers of play, Audi rode off the field with a 4-2 edge.
Joey Casey finally got Elangeni Ranch on the right track in the third with a penalty conversion for a goal, but Bollini countered with a single goal to keep Audi ahead by two, 5-3 at the end of the first half.
Melissa Ganzi tallied her third goal of the afternoon to open scoring in the period, but Elangeni Ranch responded with a goal from Diego Coscio. After four chukkers, Audi continued hold a two goal lead, 6-4.
Bollini put Audi ahead, 7-4, in the fifth, but Casey managed to break through the defense for another Elangeni Ranch goal. The Audi lead remained at two goals, 7-5.
Casey started the scoring with a penalty conversion (a safety) as Elangeni Ranch battled back. With the clock running down, Coscio scored from the field to tie the game at 7-7, with just 90 seconds on the game clock.
Audi took control of the ensuing throw-in can carried toward the Elangeni Ranch goal when the whistle sounded. Audi’s Hector Galindo converted the shot for the winning goal as time ran out.
Bollini led all players in scoring with four goals. Melissa Ganzi added three and Galindo converted the winning goal on a penalty shot.
Casey led the Elangeni Ranch team with three goals. Coscio scored twice and the team received two goals by handicap.
Tournament action is slated to continue on Friday, May 13 with a round-robin match featuring Piaget, Pony Express and Newport/Port Mayaca at 5pm on the Grand Champions’ fields in Wellington.