Jedi Tops Pony Express 13-12 in Overtime Saturday
in 2007 Stanford U.S. Open Action at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (March 31, 2007) – Nine-goaler Pablo MacDonough scored eight goals, including the game-winner on a 60-yard forehand from a sharp angle 1:09 into overtime, to lift Jedi over Pony Express 13-12 in an opening-round match of the 2007 Stanford U.S. Open Championship Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The game between pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard and Black Watch was postponed until Sunday at noon when Adolfo Cambiaso spent the night in a hospital with his daughter, who was ill but was released in the morning and will be alright.
“In overtime, the idea was to hit it as soon as you have a chance to shoot,” said MacDonough.
Pony Express scored three consecutive goals in a 61-second span to tie the game at 12-12 with 2:05 left, the last one by Pancho Bensadon after stealing the ball from Juan Martin Nero near midfield and dribbling in. They missed a chance to win the game in regulation when Bensadon’s shot was wide with 46 seconds remaining.
Jedi started extremely strong, jumping out to 6-1 lead after the second chukker and 7-3 at halftime.
“It happens,” said MacDonough, who scored five goals in the second half. “You don’t plan to be winning by five goals. But you have to keep the same level through the whole game.”
Pony Express kept battling back, tying the game at 8-8 on Carlos Gracida’s short forehand after taking a long pass from Bautista Heguy with 5:51 left in the fifth chukker. That was the first tie since 1-1 early in the first chukker. Bensadon scored on a neck shot 59 seconds later to give Pony Express its only lead, at 9-8, with 4:52 remaining.
Jedi responded with four unanswered goals, three by MacDonough and one by patron Torsten Koch, to take a 12-9 advantage early in the final chukker.
“They began to play better and then we were not focused enough on the game,” said MacDonough. “Polo is like that. You haven’t won until the last bell.”
Nine-goaler Juan Martin Nero added three goals while 7-goaler Magoo Laprida and patron Torsten Koch scored one goal apiece for Jedi (1-0).
The victory was also a bit of sweet revenge for Jedi and Koch, who had led Pony Express by two goals in the sixth chukker before losing 12-11 in a USPA Piaget Gold Cup match 20 days ago.
“It’s good to be out of the losing streak,” said Koch, whose team had lost its last two matches.
“To win (against Pony Express) is good for our confidence,” added MacDonough.
Heguy finished with a team-high six goals while Bensadon scored five goals and Nine-goaler Carlos Gracida added one goal for Pony Express (0-1). Patron Bob Daniels did not score.
Action continues Sunday in the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier with a tripleheader beginning at 10 a.m. when Skeeterville plays Catamount, followed at noon when pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard, led by superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, plays Black Watch, led by Facundo Pieres and Nacho Figueras. Defending champion Las Monjitas, led by 9-goalers Eduardo and Ignacio Novillo Astrada, plays Lechuza Caracas, featuring 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos and 9-goaler Pite Merlos, at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
The Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday, April 15 with the semifinals set for Wednesday, April 18. The Stanford U.S. Open is the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season and covers the first four Sundays in April. The final, on Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 7,000 spectators.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only three tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at International Polo Club.
The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ½-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.
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.
Standings
Division I
Team W-L GF GA
San Saba 1-0 12 9
Millarville 0-0 0 0
Laurence-Wallace 0-1 9 12
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
Orchard Hill 1-0 10 9
Bendabout 0-0 0 0
White Birch 0-1 9 10
Division III
Team W-L GF GA
Skeeterville 0-0 0 0
Catamount 0-0 0 0
Las Monjitas 0-0 0 0
Lechuza Caracas 0-0 0 0
Division IV
Team W-L GF GA
Jedi 1-0 13 12
Black Watch 0-0 0 0
Crab Orchard 0-0 0 0
Pony Express 0-1 12 13
Saturday’s result
Jedi 13, Pony Express 12 (overtime)
Friday’s results
Orchard Hill 10, White Birch 9
San Saba 12, Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally 9
Sunday’s schedule
Skeeterville vs. Catamount, 10 a.m.
Black Watch vs. Crab Orchard, noon
Las Monjitas vs. Lechuza Caracas, 3 p.m.