By Alex Webbe
Flat Out/Equine Law (Avery Chapman, Paul Knapp, Brandon Phillips and Nic Roldan) Charged out to an early 3-1 lead on its way to an 11-9 win over Newport (Gene Goldstein, Joaquin Panelo, Esteban Panelo and Mariano Gonzalez) in the finals of the 2012 USPA Kay Colee Memorial Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida Sunday afternoon.
Newport received one goal by handicap as it watched Flat Out/Equine Law ring up three straight goals for a 3-1 edge. Nic Roldan scored once from the field and once on a penalty shot. Paul Knapp added the final goal of the first chukker for the 3-1 score.
Brandon Phillips converted a penalty shot for a goal and added another from the field Avery Chapman added a goal for Flat Out/Equine Law before Newport could respond. A penalty goal from Mariano Gonzalez ended the second period with Flat Out/Equine Law leading by four goals, 6-2.
Gonzalez added three more goals to the Newport total in the third (one by penalty shot, two from the field) but Flat Out/Equine Law fought off the rally with a goal from Phillips and a goal by penalty (Penalty 1). Flat Out/Equine Law had a three goal advantage at the midway point, 8-5.
Chapman scored the only goal of the fourth period as Flat Out/Equine Law extended its lead to four goals, 9-5.
Esteban Panelo got Newport on the scoreboard first in the fifth chukker, but goals from Roldan and Chapman kept them at bay as they led by five goals, 11-6, with one period to play.
Newport rallied in the final minutes of regulation play, picking up a pair of goals from Gene Goldstein and a single goal from Esteban Panelo, but the effort fell short. Flat Out/Equine Law left the field with an 11-9 victory.
Mariano Gonzalez led all scoring with four goals. Teammates Goldstein and Esteban Panelo scored two goals apiece and the team received one goal by handicap.
Chapman, Phillips and Roldan scored three goals apiece. Knapp scored once in the win.
Nic Roldan was named MVP while Gene Goldstein’s 9-year-old brown mare, Mana Mora, received Best Playing Pony honors.
AUDI WINS CONSOLATION
Audi (Marc Ganzi, Wesley Finalyson, Jeff Hall and Tommy Biddle) scored wins over Piaget (4-2) and Ruby Q (5-2) to capture the round-robin consolation match of the Kay Colee Memorial Cup Sunday afternoon.
Finlayson scored four times in the team’s final three chukkers against Ruby Q after knocking Piaget (with Grant Ganzi playing in place of Melissa Ganzi) out in the opening three periods of the competition.
Piaget managed a 5-4 win over Ruby Q, but couldn’t handle the Audi offense in the opening three chukkers.