By Alex Webbe
YP (David Krantz, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Juan Badiola) received one goal by handicap and scored the first goal of the game as they raced out to a 6-2 halftime lead before Ruby Q (Wes Finlayson, Brian Street, Tommy Biddle and Diego Cossio) stormed back with shutout second half defense and seven goals to take the 2012 US Trust Cup with a 9-6 win.
Melissa Ganzi scored the first goal of the game for the only score in the opening chukker for the 2-0 start (one goal by handicap).
Second chukker goals from David Krantz and Juan Bollini were answered by a goal from the field from Tommy Biddle as YP extended their lead to three goals, 4-1.
Bollini and Melissa Ganzi added single goals for YP in the third with Ruby Q limited to a single penalty conversion by Biddle. At the end of a first half dominated by YP, Ruby Q trailed by four goals, 6-2.
A determined Ruby Q team returned to the field in the second half and took control of the game. Single goals from Biddle and Diego Cossio went unanswered in the fourth as Ruby Q cut into the YP lead. YP maintained the lead, but Ruby Q was within striking distance, 6-4.
Biddle tore them up in the third, scoring three consecutive goals while YP couldn’t muster any offense and got shutout for the second consecutive chukker. For the first time all day, Ruby Q took the lead, 7-6.
Biddle’s seventh and eighth goals of the day came on penalty shots while YP found themselves shut out for third straight period. Ruby Q was on the winning end of a 9-6 final score as they captured the 2012 US Trust Cup.
Tommy Biddle led all scorers with eight on the day and was named MVP for his efforts. Cossio added a goal in the win.
YP received one goal by handicap and picked up a single goal from David Krantz. Melissa Ganzi and Juan Bollini scored two goals apiece.
Posh, a five-year-old Bay thoroughbred played by Juan Badiola received Best Playing Pony honors. Posh also received BPP honors in the USPA President’s Cup.
EQUINE LAW 10, NEWPORT 9
Earlier in the day Equine Law (Avery Chapman, Jeff Hall, Joey Casey and Jocelyn Grouix) won a back-and-forth battle with Newport (Kris Kampsen, Paul Knapp, Marc Ganzi and Brandon Phillips) with a closing penalty conversion from Avery Chapman for the win.
Newport had to spot Equine Law two goals by handicap but evened it up, 2-2, with single goals from Paul Knapp and Marc Ganzi in the opening chukker.
Joey Casey scored a pair of goals from the field for Equine Law in the second and teammate Jeff Hall converted a penalty shot. Marc Ganzi scored a penalty goal for Newport but Equine Law took the lead 5-3.
A penalty goal from Chapman in the third was answered by two goals from Marc Ganzi (one from the field and one on a penalty shot). Equine Law held a narrow 6-5 halftime advantage.
Neither team could score from the field in the fourth chukker, and Newport shut down the Equine Law attack. Marc Ganzi added two penalty goals to give the lead to Newport, 7-6.
The Equine Law attack came alive in the fifth, scoring four straight goals (there from Jeff Hall and one from Jocelyn Grouix). A penalty goal from Marc Ganzi was all the offense Newport could offer as they fell behind, 10-8.
Newport continued to press the attack in the sixth with Paul Knapp and Kris Kampsen scoring to tie it up at 10-10. With seconds on the game clock Chapman converted a penalty goal for the 11-10 Equine Law win.
Jeff Hall led the Equine Law attack with four goals. Avery Chapman and Joey Casey scored two goals apiece and Jocelyn Grouix added a goal for the win. Equine Law also received two goals by handicap.
Marc Ganzi set the pace for the Newport offense with seven goals. Paul Knapp added two goals and Kris Kampsen scored once in a losing cause.