BTA Reaches Semifinals With Last-Minute Victory over Lechuza Caracas; Laurence-Wallace, Privilege/Gracida International Also Advance
in Ylvisaker Cup Action Sunday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (February 11, 2007) – Seven-goaler Fred Mannix Jr. scored on a 60-yard forehand just inside the left post with 53 seconds remaining as BTA survived a second-half rally by Lechuza Caracas to register an 11-10 victory in the quarterfinals of the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In other quarterfinals action, Laurence-Wallace edged San Saba 13-11 and Privilege/Gracida International topped the Broncos 11-8.
BTA plays Privilege/Gracida International at 1 p.m. followed by defending champion New Bridge La Dolfina against Laurence-Wallace at 3 p.m. in Wednesday’s semifinals.
The final of the Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
Mannix Jr. took the ball about 100 yards from goal, dribbled several times and with defenders bumping him, took the shot.
“I had one chance (to shoot) and luckily it went in,” said Mannix Jr.
BTA seemingly had control of the match, jumping out to an 8-3 halftime lead. Lechuza Caracas came out strong in the second half with three consecutive goals, one each by Piki Alberdi, Pite Merlos and Jorge Rodriguez to cut the margin to 8-6. Rodriguez’s goal was a 20-yard forehand with one second remaining.
BTA took a 9-6 lead on a terrific goal by Jeff Hall, who dribbled down the field, hitting seven nearside shots with Merlos on his hip before knocking it through the posts with 3:33 left. Merlos countered with a goal from the ensuing throw-in to cut the margin to 9-7 and tapped in a loose ball with 16 seconds remaining to make it 9-8.
Alberdi’s 30-yard penalty shot with 4:37 left in the game was the first tie and Merlos gave Lechuza Caracas its first and only lead with 3:09 remaining when he scored with just the stick as his broken mallet head sailed about 20 yards.
Mannix converted a two-yard penalty shot with 1:34 remaining to set up the game-winning heroics.
Lechuza Caracas was driving to goal but was called for a penalty with 18 seconds remaining and BTA drove the ball downfield and out of danger as time ran out.
Hall finished with a team-high four goals while Mannix Jr. and Roenisch scored three goals apiece. Patron Kelly Beal did not score.
Merlos finished with a game-high seven goals while Alberdi had two and Rodriguez one for Lechuza Caracas (1-2). Patron Victor Vargas did not score.
“It’s just fantastic to be in the semifinals,” said Beal, who hails from Midland, Texas. “I’ve never had so much playing polo. We’re an offensive team, always pushing forward. Lechuza Caracas is a very good team. They can score as quick as anyone. But even when they caught us, we kept a positive focus and were able to come back.”
San Saba was the only division champ not to advance to the semifinals.
American 9-goaler Mike Azzaro scored four unanswered goals in the fifth chukker to give Laurence-Wallace an 11-8 lead. Early in the sixth chukker, San Saba cut the margin to 11-10 before Luis Escobar gave Laurence-Wallace a two-goal cushion.
Escobar led Laurence-Wallace (2-1) with five goals while Azzaro finished with four, Pelon Escapite added two and patron Elizabeth Iorio had one goal.
Paco de Narvaez led San Saba (2-1) with four goals, Javier Novillo Astrada scored three goals and patron Dawn Jones and Luis Echezarreta added two goals apiece.
Privilege/Gracida International jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the third chukker before the Broncos scored four consecutive goals to tie the game at halftime. Each team scored three goals in the fourth chukker but then the Broncos didn’t score in the last two chukkers. Patron Lord Milford-Haven missed two good opportunities, one in the fifth and sixth, and 9-goaler Lucas Monteverde couldn’t convert another chance with 2:16 left in the game that would have cut the margin to 10-9.
Carlos Gracida and Kris Kampsen scored four goals apiece to lead Privilege/Gracida International (3-0) while Roberto Gonzales added two goals and Carlitos Gracida added one goal.
Monteverde led the Broncos (2-2) with five goals while Silvestre Donovan scored two goals and Lord Milford-Haven added one goal. Naco Taverna did not score. This was the final game of the Florida high-goal season for the Broncos, who missed the first tournament because their horses were in the mandatory quarantine area and not fit.
The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s, bringing the sport to the forefront in Palm Beach County. A former Chairman of the USPA, Ylvisaker was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.
The polo matches are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
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.
Past champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina defeated Skeeterville 15-14
2005 – Pony Express defeated Airstream 11-6
2004 – Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 13-8
2003 – C Spear defeated Outback 11-9
Sunday’s results
BTA 11, Lechuza Caracas 10
Laurence-Wallace 13, San Saba 11
Privilege/Gracida International 11, Broncos 8
Saturday’s result
New Bridge La Dolfina 11, Black Watch 7
Wednesday’s schedule
BTA vs. Privilege/Gracida International, 1 p.m.
Laurence-Wallace vs. New Bridge La Dolfina, 3 p.m.
Scoring Leaders
(through Sunday’s games)
Player/Team Games Goals
Pite Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 3 22
Gonzalito Pieres, Audi 3 21
Facundo Pieres, Black Watch 3 21
Lucas Monteverde, Broncos 4 20
Paco de Narvaez, San Saba 3 17
Jeff Hall, BTA 3 17
Kris Kampsen, Privilege/Gracida Int’l 3 17
Adolfo Cambiaso, New Bridge La Dolfina 3 15
Carlos Gracida, Privilege/Gracida Int’l 3 15
Julio Arellano, Skeeterville 2 12
Silvestre Donovan, Broncos 3 12
Guille Aguero, Patagones 2 11
Miguel Novillo Astrada, Bendabout 2 11
Matias Magrini, New Bridge La Dolfina 3 11
Tomas Goti, Pony Express 2 10