By Alex Webbe
Audi (1-1) evened its record in USPA National Twenty Goal action on Tuesday morning with an 8-6 win over Flat Out (0-1) on the fields of the Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton.
Audi received one goal by handicap from the 18-goal Flat Out team (9-goaler Pite Merlos played in place of 7-goaler Jota Chavanne), but couldn’t score a goal from the field until over four minutes into the chukker. Juan Bollini split the goal posts for a 2-0 Audi lead, as Flat Out was unable to break through the Audi defense.
A penalty conversion from Audi team captain Melissa Ganzi and a goal from the field from Kris Kampsen had Audi ahead, 4-0 before Flat Out found its offense. Single goals from Pite Merlos and Diego Cossio finally got Flat Out on the scoreboard, and the second period ended with Audi driving off with a 4-2 advantage.
An invigorated Flat Out took the field in the third chukker playing shut-out defense while picking up a penalty goal from Paul Knapp and a goal from the field from Cossio. After three chukkers of play the score was all even at 4-4.
Kampsen scored the first goal of the second half for Audi, but Ruben Gracida evened it up again at 5-5 with a penalty goal to end the chukker.
Both teams continued to play heads-up defense as drive after drive was turned away. Audi’s Jason Crowder scored the first goal of the period, but Cossio responded with a goal for Flat Out. After five chukkers of action the score was all even at 6-6.
Bollini finally managed to break through the Flat Out defense for a go-ahead goal, and Crowder scored an insurance goal as Audi rode on to celebrate the 8-6 victory.
Flat Out’s Cossio led all scoring with three goals. Teammates Knapp, Gracida and Merlos added single goals in the loss.
Kampsen, Bollini and Crowder scored two goals apiece for Audi. Ganzi added a goal and Audi received one goal by handicap.
Flat Out (0-1) will return to the field on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 pm at the Grand Champions Polo Club where they will meet KIG (1-0).