White Birch, Jedi Registers Quarterfinal Wins to Advance to Semifinals
Of 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 14, 2007) – Nine-goaler Lucas Monteverde converted a 30-yard penalty shot with 1:03 remaining to lift perennial powerhouse White Birch over Millarville 10-9 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In another Stanford U.S. Open quarterfinal match, 9-goaler Pablo MacDonough scored eight goals, seven in the second half, as Jedi rallied past Lechuza Caracas 15-10 to reach the semifinals for the first time.
White Birch, the 2005 Stanford U.S. Open champion, plays Jedi on Wednesday in the semifinals.
Monteverde’s game-winning goal made up for a missed 30-yard penalty shot in the first minute of the final chukker.
“On the first penalty shot, I wasn’t sure whether I would hit it walking or at a canter,” said Monteverde. His horse veered as he swung and Monteverde pulled the ball wide to the left. “On the second penalty shot, I was on another mare and very comfortable.”
The game was delayed for six minutes when White Birch patron Peter Brant fell heavily on his right shoulder with 4:46 left in the second chukker. He was able to continue for a short time but had to be replaced by Chris Nevins with 1:26 left in the third chukker and Millarville ahead 5-4. Brant spent the rest of the game with his shoulder taped and iced at the White Birch tent.
Brant said his rotator cuff had been bothering him before the season but not recently.
Millarville made 1-of-2 penalty shots while White Birch converted 5-of-8 penalty shots, including a pair of 60-yard safeties.
Ten-goaler Mariano Aguerre added two goals for White Birch (2-1) while Ulysses Escapite scored three goals. Brant and Nevins did not score.
Fred Mannix Jr. led Millarville with seven goals while Sugar Erskine and Silvestre Donovan scored one goal apiece. Daniel Roenisch did not score.
“They are a very difficult team with Sugar, Fred and Bete (Donovan),” said Monteverde. “Nothing surprises you.”
The Lechuza Caracas-Jedi game was delayed 35 minutes when 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos of Lechuza Caracas tumbled to the ground with 27 seconds left in the first chukker. He was taken off the field by ambulance but was conscious and had movement in his extremities.
Lechuza Caracas was ahead 3-1 at the time, with all the goals scored by the 34-year-old Merlos.
Merlos was replaced by 6-goaler Tomas del Rio as Lechuza Caracas put up a valiant effort that fell short.
Jedi took a 7-6 halftime lead on Magoo Laprida’s only goal with 18 seconds remaining in the third chukker. Jedi extended its lead to 13-8 heading into the final chukker as MacDonough scored all six goals.
Nine-goaler Juan Martin Nero added four goals for Jedi (3-0) while patron Torsten Koch scored two goals.
Nine-goaler Pite Merlos led Lechuza Caracas with five goals while Jeff Blake and del Rio added one goal apiece. Patron Victor Vargas did not score.
The high-octane action continues Sunday with a doubleheader.
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.
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 results
White Birch 10, Millarville 9
Jedi 15, Lechuza Caracas 10
Sunday’s schedule
Las Monjitas vs. Crab Orchard, noon
San Saba vs. Orchard Hill, 3 p.m.