Every polo player knows how untrustworthy travel arrangements can be, and with Carlos Gracida and Carlitos Gracida delayed at the airport, Audi (Marc Ganzi, Carlos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlitos Gracida) was forced to take the field against KIG (Bash Kazi, Hector Galindo, Sugar Erskine and Kris Kampsen) with Tommy Collingwood and Jason Crowder filling in for the missing Gracidas for the first three chukkers.
Audi received one goal by handicap from the 19-goal KIG team and charged out to an early 5-1 lead before registering a 10-6 win and an appointment with Piaget in the finals of the 2012 USPA North America Cup.
Audi team captain Marc Ganzi scored the first goal of the game countered by a goal from KIG 7-goaler Sugar Erskine. Ganzi responded with two more goals (one from the field and one on a penalty shot. Jason Crowder scored the final goal of the chukker for Audi who left the field with a 5-1 advantage at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.
The pace escalated in the second period, but as it did, the defense tightened. Kris Kampsen converted a penalty goal for KIG for the only score of the chukker. KIG continued to trail, but the lead was cut to three goals, 5-2.
Kampsen converted a second penalty shot for a goal in the third, but Ganzi’s fourth goal of the game ended the chukker with Audi riding off the field with a 6-3 halftime lead.
With the two Gracidas safely back in the lineup, Audi wasted little time getting their attack going in the second half. Nic Roldan scored his first goal of the game followed by a goal from Carlos Gracida. After four chukkers Audi was on top of an 8-3 score.
Carlitos Gracida got on the scoreboard with a goal in the fifth period with a goal from the field, but Kampsen replied with a pair of goals for KIG (one from the field and one on a penalty conversion). With one chukker left in regulation play, Audi led KIG by four goals 9-5.
Audi continued to press its attack in the sixth chukker. Ganzi scored his fifth goal of the game for a 10-5 lead. KIG continued to have trouble coordinating any effective offense and settled for a single penalty goal from Kampsen in the final chukker in a 10-6 loss.
Marc Ganzi led the Audi team with five goals (four from the field). Jason Crowder, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida scored single goals in the victory, and the team received one goal by handicap.
Kampsen’s four goals (all on penalty shots) set the pace for KIG. Sugar Erskine and Hector Galindo each scored a goal in a losing effort.
The victory boosts Audi into Sunday’s 3PM finals against Piaget.