Audi (Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida) made a sweep of the fall 20-goal season at the Grand Champions Polo Club with a 10-9 win over Piaget (Melissa Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Juan Bollini and Juan Badiola) in the finals of the USPA National Twenty-Goal tournament Sunday afternoon in front of an enthusiastic local crowd (Audi won the 20-goal USPA North America Cup just a week earlier).
Carlitos Gracida scored the first goal of the game for Audi, but Juan Bollini responded with a goal from the field. Marc Ganzi converted a penalty shot for a goal for Piaget for a 2-1 first period lead.
Second chukker play saw Audi take control of the game from Piaget and put three goals on the scoreboard. Nic Roldan scored a goal from the field and teammate Carlos Gracida scored twice, once on a penalty shot. Jeff Hall accounted for the only Piaget goal of the period as they trailed 5-2.
Audi riddled the Piaget defense in the third, scoring three consecutive goals to move in front by a commanding 8-2 score. Carlitos Gracida scored twice and Roldan added another goal for the Audi team. Juan Badiola kept Piaget from being shutout with a single goal from the field, 8-3.
Hall opened the second half with a goal for Piaget, but Carlos Gracida answered back for Audi. The period came to an end with Audi on top of a 9-4 score.
Piaget made things interesting in the fifth period. They scored three unanswered goals and cut the Audi lead to a manageable two goals, 9-7. Bollini added a goal and Hall scored twice (one on a penalty conversion).
Hall cut the Audi lead to a single goal, 9-8, with his fifth goal of the match in the sixth. Audi team captain Marc Ganzi drove the ball through the Piaget goal posts for a 10-8 lead. Bollini scored the final goal of the game for Piaget, but time ran out and Roldan drove the ball into the sideboards to end the game with a 10-9 Audi win.
Carlos Gracida and Carlitos Gracida led the Audi attack with three goals apiece. Marc Ganzi and Roldan each scored twice in the victory.
Hall’s five goals led all scoring on the day. Bollini added three goals and Badiola scored once in a losing effort.
Hall of Famer Carlos Gracida was named MVP for his efforts while Sweet Greeting, an eight-year-old Bay Thoroughbred mare owned by Melissa Ganzi and played by Juan Badiola took Best Playing Pony honors.