2015 Louis Vuitton Cup winner-FlexJet (L to R)-Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor, Grant Ganzi and Stewart Armstrong.
FlexJet team (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Lucas Lalor and Stewart Armstrong) and Mexico (Guillermo Steta, Alejandro Gonzalez, Carlitos Gracida and Mariano Gracida) scored 17 goals between them in Friday’s first round of play in the 2015 Louis Vuitton Cup, but Sunday’s final was a defensive battle that was won by FlexJet by the narrowest of margins, 6-5.
A scoreless first chukker set the tone for the battle between the two talented teams as men were marked and ride-offs and backhanders turned offensive efforts aside.
FlexJet made the first successful attacks in second period action. Lucas Lalor and Juancito Bollini scored consecutive goals while Mexico was shutout for the second consecutive chukker. After two periods of play, FlexJet was riding a two goal lead 2-0.
Lalor’s second goal of the game had FlexJet in front by three goals, 3-0, before Mexico finally got on the scoreboard. Guillermo Steta cut the lead to two goals with the final goal of a low-scoring first half, 3-1.
Grant Ganzi opened the fourth chukker with a 30-yard penalty conversion that extended the FlexJet lead to three goals again, 4-1. Mexico rallied with goals from Alejandro Gonzalez and Carlitos Gracida. The FlexJet lead had been cut to a single goal, 4-3Grant Ganzi added another penalty goal in the fifth followed by a goal from the field from Lalor. Mexico was unable to score, and fell behind by three goals, 6-3 with one chukker left in regulation play.
Mexico brought it all to the field with them in the final chukker while FlexJet prepared to defend their lead. Carlitos Gracida cut the lead to two goals with a 60-yard penalty conversion, 6-4, and his younger brother Mariano Gracida had them within one goal of the lead, 6-5. He FlexJet defense held, however, and time expired on Mexico’s sixth chukker rally with FlexJet claiming the 6-5 victory.
Lucas Lalor led the field in scoring with three goals, earning himself MVP honors. Grant Ganzi converted a pair of penalty shots for goals and Juancito Bollini added a goal for the win. Carlitos Gracida scored twice for Mexico. Mariano Gracida, Alejandro Gonzalez and Guillermo Steta each added a goal in the loss.
Halo Polo’s 7-year-old chestnut mare, Chestnut, played by Lucas Lalor, was honored as Best Playing Pony.
Audi 9, KIG 7
KIG (Bash Kazi, Brian Boyd, Marc Ganzi and Nic Roldan) opened the subsidiary game with a pair of goals from Marc Ganzi (one on a penalty conversion) for the early 2-0 lead. Audi (Will Jacobs/Daren Templin, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Lucas Lalor) fired right back with two goals from Melissa Ganzi. At the end of the first chukker it was all even at 2-2.
KIG team captain Bash Kazi broke the tie with the opening goal of the second period, 3-2, and a foul in the goalmouth by Audi resulted in a Penalty 1 and the awarding of a goal that had KIG in front by two goals, 4-2. Marc Ganzi scored his third goal of the game to end the chukker with KIG leading by three goals, 5-2.
Audi took control of the third chukker as they shut down the KIG attack and picked up two more goals from Melissa Ganzi. At the end of the first half KIG continued to lead, 5-4, but Audi was knocking on the door.
The momentum continued to build for the Audi team as the fourth period got underway. Juan Bollini blasted the ball through the KIG goalposts from nearly 150 yards out to tie it at 5-5. Will Jacobs converted a 30-yard penalty shot that gave Audi their first lead of the game, 6-5, and found himself on the scoring end of a well-placed pass from Bollini that had them leading by two goals, 7-5. Brian Boyd kept KIG from getting shutout with the final goal of the chukker, but with two periods left in regulation play, Audi claimed the lead, 7-6.
Riley Ganzi and Bash Kazi traded goals in the fifth as a number of shots on goal by both teams went wide. After five chukkers Audi continued to lead, 8-7.
KIG fought to bet back into the game in the final chukker, but a resolute Audi defense kept them at bay. Melissa Ganzi scored the only goal of the final chukker for the 9-7 Audi victory. Melissa Ganzi led all scoring with five goals. Will Jacobs accounted for two goals and Juan Bollini and riley Ganzi each added a goal for the win. Marc Ganzi scored a team-high three goals for KIG. Bash Kazi was credited with two goals and Brian Boyd scored once. KIG also received one goal on a Penalty 1.
Nic Roldan received MVP honors.
Tournament play continues at the Aspen Valley Polo Club on August 14 with the first round of play in the Mount Sopris Cup. The final scheduled to be played on Sunday, August 17.
The Aspen Valley Polo Club is located at 3275 County Road 100, Carbondale, CO 81623. The games are free of charge and spectators are welcome. The Polo Hotline, (970-710-1663) will be available to offer game times and locations. E-mail correspondence should be sent to aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.