By Alex Webbe
Eight goals from Gonzalito Pieres led the Audi scoring attack as it scored a C. V. Whitney Cup opening round upset over a highly touted Crab Orchard team that boasted the services polo great, Adolfo Cambiaso. Remember that it was Cambiaso who led his teams to wins in four major tournament championships last year including the Piaget Gold Cup and the U. S. Open, but that wouldn’t be the case Wednesday.
Although Audi received one goal by handicap, and scored the first goal of the game, it found itself trailing Crab Orchard for much of the game. In the fifth chukker, however, a motivated Audi team scored three consecutive goals to tie the game at 12-12.
Revitalized by its efforts, Audi staged a rally that accounted for three consecutive goals. Crab Orchard managed a single goal by Nachi Heguy on a penalty conversion late in the final chukker, but it would be Audi with the 15-13 win.
Crab Orchard’s famed 10-goaler Cambiaso made his presence known, scoring four goals on the day, but the big story was the teamwork and resolve of the Audi foursome.
“It was exciting to play against Cambiaso,” said Audi team captain Melissa Ganzi, “we’re all very excited about the win.”
The C. V. Whitney opening round match signaled Ganzi’s first 26-goal tournament, and the win is certain to help carry her through to the next round where they will face a reinforced Bendabout team on Saturday afternoon.
Gonzalito Pieres led all scoring with eight goals. Teammate Paco de Narvaez scored three times before being replaced at the half with Pablo MacDonough (as his team was eliminated in earlier action, he was available, and filled in to help Audi to the win). MacDonough scored twice and Juan Bollini added a goal in the winning effort.
Nachi Heguy led the Crab Orchard attack with five goals (all on penalty shots). Cambiaso converted two penalty shots and added two goals from the field for four goals and Jeff Hall added four goals, all scored from the field.
In earlier C. V. Whitney Cup action, Lechuza Caracas scored an impressive 14-10 win over Black Watch as Pite and Sebastian Merlos scored five goals apiece in a game that was never in doubt.
“We had the benefit of having played a few 26-goal games already,” offered Lechuza 9-goaler Pite Merlos, “and I think it made a big difference.”
Jumping out to an early 8-4 lead, the Lechuza team made it clear that it had the talent and ability to score at will against an out-gunned Black Watch team.
Lechuza has been competing in its own 26-goal challenge cup that allowed the team to better prepare itself for the C. V. Whitney Cup, the opening 26-goal tournament at the International Polo Club in Wellington.