Millarville Edges San Saba 10-9 in 2007 Stanford U.S. Open
Action Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (April 8, 2007) – Millarville rose to the occasion, playing well enough to defeat San Saba 10-9 in a key divisional game with playoff implications in the 2007 Stanford U.S. Open Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In other games, Ignacio Toccalino scored six goals as Bendabout defeated Orchard Hill 10-6 and defending champion Las Monjitas escaped with a 9-8 victory over Skeeterville.
It was a somber day of high-goal polo. The San Saba-Millarville game began with a moment of silence in memory of Skeeterville patron Skeeter Johnston, who passed away on Friday from injuries suffered during a fall in a practice game on Wednesday. Johnston’s head groom, Elviro Serio, led Johnston’s favorite mount, Raba, an 11-year-old bay mare, to midfield.
Millarville scored three consecutive goals in the fourth chukker, two by Silvestre Donovan in a 46-second span, to take a 7-3 advantage.
San Saba rallied throughout the second half but could never tie the game, cutting the margin to 10-9 on Tommy Lee Jones’ two-yard back shot with 1:03 remaining. But San Saba could not get off a shot on the ensuing series.
Millarville’s victory catapulted them into the quarterfinals along with San Saba while eliminating Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally based on goal differential.
“We played three great chukkers and three shocking chukkers,” said 7-goaler Sugar Erskine of Millarville. “Our biggest problem is that we couldn’t seem to stick with our plan. It’s something we’re going to have to work on.”
Donovan led Millarville (1-1) with four goals while Daniel Roenisch scored three goals, Fred Mannix Jr. had two goals and Erskine one.
Javier Novillo Astrada led San Saba (1-1) with five goals while Toto Collardin added two goals and Jones and Paco de Narvaez had one goal each.
The day began with an amazing display of courage and heart when Skeeterville played just two days after its patron, Skeeter Johnston, passed away from injuries suffered in a practice game.
All four Skeeterville players wore red jerseys with a large No. 1 on the back, Johnston’s number. Both teams also wore black armbands on their left bicep.
More than 500 fans watched and Skeeterville was definitely the favorite, with a lot of cheering and clapping on every goal or key defensive play.
Skeeterville scored four consecutive goals to take an 8-5 lead late in the fifth chukker. Las Monjitas responded with goals by Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Sapo Caset to cut the margin to 8-7 going into the final chukker.
Caset tied the game at 8-8 and Novillo Astrada converted a 60-yard penalty shot for the eventual game-winner with 2:58 left.
Skeeterville had a chance to tie the game with five seconds remaining but Julio Arellano’s 60-yard safety from about 20 yards from the right boards was just wide.
Caset led Las Monjitas with four goals, Eduardo Novillo Astrada scored three goals and Nacho Novillo Astrada added two goals. Patron Camilo Bautista did not score.
The win clinched first place in Division III for Las Monjitas (2-0) and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Arellano led Skeeterville with seven goals and Marcos di Paola scored one goal. Owen Rinehart and 18-year-old Kalyn Marsh of Sheridan, Wyoming who replaced Johnston in the lineup, did not score.
“It was very difficult for all of us,” said Arellano, who has been playing for Skeeterville for the last three seasons and was designated as the team spokesman after the game. “Owen is the team captain and Skeeter’s very close friend. He said “I know I have to play. I have to do this” and nobody said anything else.”
Arellano said it was Rinehart’s idea for all the players to wear the No. 1 jerseys.
“It was a fantastic idea, a great tribute to him (Johnston),” said Arellano.
“Skeeter loved polo. He loved horses. He loved the sport and what it meant. Skeeter was a true gentleman and we all loved him very much.”
Despite the win, Bendabout (1-1) was eliminated based on goal differential and will play in the subsidiary tournament, the Hall of Fame Cup.
Ten-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada added four goals for Bendabout while Alejandro Novillo Astrada and patron Gillian Johnston did not score.
Lucas Criado and Jeff Hall led Orchard Hill (1-1) with two goals apiece while patron Steve Van Andel and Hector Galindo scored one goal each. Despite the loss, Orchard Hill advanced to the quarterfinals, along with White Birch (1-1) from Division II.
Both teams wore black armbands in memory of Skeeter Johnston, Gillian’s half-brother.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnston family,” said International Polo Club Palm Beach co-founder John Goodman, who also is patron of the Isla Carroll high-goal team and was a frequent opponent of Johnston. “Skeeter was a huge supporter of the club and the sport. He was an intense competitor, a true gentleman and someone who was fair and honest. It was an honor and a privilege to be his friend. I will miss him a lot.”
It’s win or go home as action in the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier continues Tuesday with a pair of qualifying games for the final two berths in the quarterfinals.
Lechuza Caracas, led by 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos and 9-goaler Pite Merlos, plays Pony Express, led by 9-goalers Bautista Heguy and Carlos Gracida, at 3 p.m. Pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard, led by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini, plays Skeeterville, at 5 p.m.
The Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15. The draw and schedule for the quarterfinals will be held after Tuesday’s games. The semifinals set for Wednesday, April 18 at noon and 3 p.m. 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 1-1 21 19
Millarville 1-1 22 22
Laurence-Wallace 1-1 22 24
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
White Birch 1-1 23 16
Orchard Hill 1-1 16 19
Bendabout 1-1 16 20
Division III
Team W-L GF GA
Las Monjitas 2-0 23 21
Lechuza Caracas 1-1 27 26
Skeeterville 1-1 20 20
Catamount 0-2 23 26
Division IV
Team W-L GF GA
Jedi 2-0 23 20
Crab Orchard 1-1 25 22
Pony Express 1-1 26 23
Black Watch 0-2 22 31
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday
Lechuza Caracas vs. Pony Express, 3 p.m.
Crab Orchard vs. Skeeterville, 5 p.m.
Saturday
TBA
Sunday
TBA