Las Monjitas Begins Defense of Title with 13-12 Triumph over Lechuza Caracas in 2007 Stanford U.S. Open Action Sunday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 1, 2007) – Las Monjitas began defense of its Stanford U.S. Open title in thrilling and successful fashion, edging Lechuza Caracas 14-13 in an opening-round match of the 2007 Stanford U.S. Open Championship Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In other games, 8-goaler Julio Arellano scored on a tap-in with 4:48 left in overtime to lift Skeeterville over Catamount 12-11 and Adolfo Cambiaso scored 13 goals, 10 in the second half, to spark pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard over Black Watch 17-12.
Nine-goaler Eduardo Novillo Astrada’s goal, on a near-side neck shot from a sharp angle from 40 yards with 2:55 remaining proved to be the winning score.
After Las Monjitas missed an opportunity, Lechuza Caracas controlled a throw-in with 1:12 left in the game and drove down the field. Las Monjitas patron Camilo Bautista’s back shot stopped threat and Sapo Caset hit the ball twice to thwart another attempt as time ran out.
“”Yes, you get a little nervous,” said Bautista, “but it was a classic back shot and that’s my shot.”
“It was one of Camilo’s best game ever,” said Eduardo Novillo Astrada. “He was our MVP.”
“I think it was one of my best games, there was a lot of concentration today,” said Bautista.
Las Monjitas led 13-11 heading into the final chukker but two penalty shots, the last one from 40 yards by Sebastian Merlos, tied the game at 13-13 with 4:28 remaining.
Lechuza Caracas had a chance to take the lead but was called for a foul while dribbling toward goal. On the ensuing offensive series, Eduardo Novillo Astrada provided the game-winning score.
Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Ignacio “Nacho” Novillo Astrada added three goals and Bautista had one goal for Las Monjitas.
“This was our first Sunday match on Stanford Field after winning the U.S. Open and you feel a lot of pressure,” said Bautista. “We have a history of always playing close games with Lechuza, like Colombia and Venezuela or Miami and New England.”
Las Monjitas defeated Lechuza 11-10 in last year’s Stanford U.S. Open to reach the quarterfinals.
“Lechuza Caracas is our Boca River,” said Eduardo Novillo Astrada.
Ten-goaler Sebastian Merlos led Lechuza Caracas (0-1) with six goals while 9-goaler Pite Merlos added four goals and Jeff Blake scored six goals. Patron Victor Vargas did not score.
Lechuza Caracas converted 7-of-12 penalty shots while Las Monjitas made 4-of-7.
“The difference was whoever made the less mistakes would win,” said Sapo Caset of Las Monjitas, who led all scorers with seven goals. “It was back and forth, a really fun game to play. It was really, really important for us to win the first game. It charges you up for the rest of the tournament.”
Catamount led 11-8 heading into the final chukker and seemingly had the game under control, content to dribble out the clock. But Skeeterville’s stunning comeback may have given it a spark to become a factor deep into the tournament.
Skeeterville scored three goals in the final 90 seconds to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Arellano converted a pair of 30-yard penalty shots, the last one with six seconds remaining, to complete the comeback.
“Polo is a funny thing,” said Arellano. “When you get momentum, it’s hard to stop. It’s happened to everybody on both sides. It’s a wonderful thing when it happens in your favor. The next time it makes you think you can do it.
Arellano’s winning goal was set up by Owen Rinehart, who backed the ball to himself near the boards in the right corner. He dribbled toward goal but the ball was stolen by Scott Devon. However, Arellano jumped on a loose ball and was able to dribble in for the game-winning goal.
Patron Skeeter Johnston scored two goals, both tying the game at 5-5 and 6-6, while Owen Rinehart and Marcos di Paola added one goal apiece for Skeeterville (1-0).
Eight-goaler Nicolas Roldan led Catamount (0-1) with five goals while Adam Snow scored three goals and Tomas Goti, substituting for an injured Martin Zegers, finished with two goals. Patron Scott Devon scored one goal. Zegers was hurt in a game last week in Boca Raton and has not recovered.
Black Watch was able to stay close through four chukkers, trailing 9-8 heading into the fifth period. Then it was Cambiaso time as the 31-year-old father of two took over, scoring seven consecutive goals as Crab Orchard increased its lead to 16-9 with 5:47 remaining in the game.
The game was postponed one day because Cambiaso spent the night in the hospital with his daughter, who has pneumonia. She is still in the hospital, according to Cambiaso.
David Stirling Jr. scored three goals, all in the first half, for Crab Orchard while Matias Magrini added one goal. Patron George Rawlings did not score.
Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres and 6-goaler Nacho Figueras led Black Watch (0-1) with five goals each while 9-goaler Gonzalito Pieres scored one goal. Patron Neil Hirsch did not score.
Black Watch received a goal at the start of the game because David Stirling Jr. of Crab Orchard had his handicap raised to 8 goals after the draw but before the first game by the National Handicap Committee. Crab Orchard’s opponents will each receive one goal the remainder of the tournament.
Divisional action continues Wednesday in the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier with a doubleheader beginning at noon when Millarville (0-0) plays Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally (0-1), followed at noon when Bendabout (0-0) plays White Birch (0-1).
The Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday, April 15 with the semifinals set for Wednesday, April 18. The Stanford U.S. Open is the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season and covers the first four Sundays in April. The final, on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 7,000 spectators.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only three tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at International Polo Club.
The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ½-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Standings
Division I
Team W-L GF GA
San Saba 1-0 12 9
Millarville 0-0 0 0
Laurence-Wallace 0-1 9 12
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
Orchard Hill 1-0 10 9
Bendabout 0-0 0 0
White Birch 0-1 9 10
Division III
Team W-L GF GA
Las Monjitas 1-0 14 13
Skeeterville 1-0 12 11
Catamount 0-1 11 12
Lechuza Caracas 0-1 13 14
Division IV
Team W-L GF GA
Crab Orchard 1-0 17 12
Jedi 1-0 13 12
Black Watch 0-1 12 17
Pony Express 0-1 12 13
Sunday’s results
Skeeterville 12, Catamount 11 (overtime)
Crab Orchard 17, Black Watch 12
Las Monjitas 14, Lechuza Caracas 13
Saturday’s result
Jedi 13, Pony Express 12 (overtime)
Friday’s results
Orchard Hill 10, White Birch 9
San Saba 12, Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally 9