Black Watch, Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally Register Victories
In Quarterfinals of Hall of Fame Cup Friday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 13, 2007) – Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres scored six goals, including the game-winner on a short forehand in traffic 62 seconds into overtime to lift Black Watch past Bendabout 12-11 in the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Cup Friday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In another quarterfinal match, 10-goaler Agustin Merlos scored with 1:31 remaining as Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally bested Catamount 10-9.
Bendabout battled back from a 10-8 deficit to take an 11-10 lead with 3:08 left in the game on Miguel Novillo Astrada’s goal. Following a key defensive save by Gene Goldstein on Bendabout patron Gillian Johnston, Black Watch carried the ball downfield and Gonzalito Pieres tied the game on a 70-yard forehand with 1:42 remaining.
Black Watch missed two tough shots to win the game in regulation, a deep neck shot by Nacho Figueras with 58 seconds left and a 100-yard forehand by Facundo Pieres with five seconds left.
Gonzalito Pieres added five goals and Nacho Figueras scored one goal for Black Watch, who will face Skeeterville in the semifinals on Tuesday. Gene Goldstein, who substituted for patron Neil Hirsch, did not score. Hirsch was out of town on personal business.
Astrada led Bendabout with five goals, all in the second half, while Ignacio Toccalino scored three goals, Alejandro Novillo Astrada added two goals and Johnston scored one goal.
Laurence-Wallace, which battled back from a 5-1 deficit early in the second chukker, plays Pony Express Tuesday in the semifinals.
Nine-goaler Mike Azzaro led Laurence-Wallace with four goals while Merlos and Luis Escobar finished with three goals apiece. Patron Elizabeth Iorio did not score.
Nine-goaler Adam Snow led Catamount with five goals while 8-goaler Nicolas Roldan scored two goals. Patron Scott Devon and Martin Zegers had one goal apiece.
High-goal polo action continues this weekend with the quarterfinals of the 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open Championships.
White Birch, the 2005 champion led by 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre, plays Millarville, led by 7-goaler Fred Mannix Jr., Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first quarterfinal. Jedi, led by 9-goaler Pablo MacDonough, plays Lechuza Caracas, led by 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos, Saturday at 5 p.m. The winners meet in the semifinals.
Defending champion Las Monjitas, led by 9-goaler Eduardo Novillo Astrada, plays Crab Orchard Sunday at noon. San Saba, featuring award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones and 9-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada, plays 2006 finalist Orchard Hill, led by 8-goaler Jeff Hall, Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field. The winners meet in the semifinals.
The semifinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are 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.
Saturday’s schedule
White Birch vs. Millarville, 3 p.m.
Jedi vs. Lechuza Caracas, 5 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule
Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, noon
San Saba vs. Orchard Hill, 3 p.m.