Orchard Hill Edges San Saba 11-10 Monday to Reach Semifinals of Stanford U.S. Open at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 16, 2007) – It took an extra day but the wait was worth it for Orchard Hill, which rallied past San Saba 11-10 on Lucas Criado’s re-directed tip-in of Jeff Hall’s 60-yard penalty shot with 1:59 remaining in the quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open Monday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Orchard Hill plays pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard, led by superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini, in the semifinals on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Perennial powerhouse White Birch, the 2005 champion led by 10-goaler Mariano Aguerre and 9-goaler Lucas Monteverde, plays Jedi, led by 9-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero, on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the first semifinal match.
Orchard Hill was awarded a 60-yard penalty with 2:02 left in the game. Hall’s grounder was tipped in by Criado, who was standing about 10 yards out on the left side of the goal posts.
“Just a reaction,” said Criado.
San Saba was unable to get off a shot on goal as the teams took turns controlling the ball near midfield. San Saba had a final chance with 31 seconds left on a penalty shot from 170 yards. But Galindo broke up the drive and time ran out.
Fourteen teams, the second-most in the history of the Stanford U.S. Open, entered the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season. The final, on Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 7,000 spectators.
“It’s great to be here, in this position with this competition,” said 8-goaler Hector Galindo of Orchard Hill.
“This is a good position to be in,” agreed patron Steve Van Andel. “Making it to the semifinals, I couldn’t be happier.”
Van Andel scored a key goal with three seconds left in the first half that cut San Saba’s margin to 8-6.
“Steve’s goal got us momentum,” said Galindo.
“That made my whole season,” said a smiling Van Andel. “That goal, and I had a key defensive stop on Paco (de Narvaez) that saved a goal. It was in the same chukker on the same horse.”
Orchard Hill, a three-time finalist, trailed 10-7 with 4:51 left in the fifth chukker when Javier Novillo Astrada of San Saba converted a 30-yard penalty shot. The comeback began almost immediately as Galindo scored two goals in a 1:42 span to cut the margin to 10-9 at the end of the fifth chukker.
Hall tied the game at 10-10 with 5:19 remaining in the game, picking up a loose ball in front of goal and tapping it home. That was the second tie of the match, since it was 2-2 with 1:18 left in the first chukker.
Criado and Galindo finished with four goals apiece while Hall added two goals and Van Andel had one goal.
Javier Novillo Astrada and Paco de Narvaez scored five goals each for San Saba. Toto Collardin and patron Tommy Lee Jones did not score. De Narvaez played for Orchard Hill for the past three seasons before joining San Saba for the 2007 season.
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 championship game of the 2007 Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier on Sunday 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.
Sunday’s results
Crab Orchard 13, Las Monjitas 9
Monday’s result
Orchard Hill 11, San Saba 10
Wednesday’s schedule
Jedi vs. White Birch, 3 p.m.
Thursday’s schedule
Crab Orchard vs. Orchard Hill, 11 a.m.