La Herradura’s Meghan Gracida in action in the USPA Congressional Cup at the Empire Polo Club.
La Herradura (Gina Padilla, Meghan Gracida, Caroline Anier and Carlos Hernandez) got the 4-goal, 2018 USPA Congressional Cup underway with a 7-4 win over the Buffalos (Riley Jordan, Felipe Sordelli, Tim Rudy and Ross Adam) Friday morning at the Empire Polo Club.
In a defensive opening chukker, Tim Rudy scored the only goal of the period on a 40-yard penalty shot. The La Herradura offense was shut down as they rode off the field trailing, 1-0.
Consecutive goals from Rudy highlighted the second chukker with Felipe Sordelli adding a goal on s 30-yard penalty conversion. Caroline Anier scored the final goal of the chukker, but it was the Buffalos with the 4-1 halftime lead.
After a halftime talk with polo Hall of Famer Memo Gracida, a re-invigorated La Herradura foursome took control of the game in the third. Buoyed by a solid defense, La Herradura put five unanswered goals on the score board. Carlos Hernandez scored three times (once on a 30-yard penalty) with Anier and Meghan Gracida adding single goals that catapulted them into the lead, 6-4.
The Buffalos attempted to rally in the fourth and final chukker but the La Herradura defense held. Hernandez scored the last goal of the game as La Herradura celebrated the 7-4 victory.
Hernandez led all scoring with four goals. Anier scored twice and Gracida was credited with a goal for the win. Rudy’s three goals led the Buffalos attack. Sordelli added a goal in the loss.
USPA Congressional Cup play continues on Saturday with Empire (Rob Scapa, Erik Wright, Jim Wright and Kiki Hiller) facing Prima Polo (Robert Payne III, Jenny Alter, Toto Socas and Todd Randall).
Two more Sunday 4-goal Congressional Cup games will feature La Herradura (1-0) meeting Prma Polo with Empire playing the Buffalos (0-1).