By Alex Webbe
After seven ties and six lead changes, Port Mayaca managed to ride past Piaget 13-11 as play continued in the USPA National Twenty Goal tournament at the Grand Champions Polo Club Sunday afternoon in Wellington, Florida.
J. J. Celis made it clear that he showed up to play, taking the opening throw-in 150 yards down the field to score Port Mayaca’s first goal of the game. Piaget bounced
back with two goals from Piaget 8-goaler Nic Roldan and a penalty conversion from Marc Ganzi for a 3-1 first chukker lead.
Ganzi scored his first goal from the field to open the second chukker, giving Piaget a 4-1 lead, but goals from Celis and Leo Mandelbaum ended the second period with Port Mayaca trailing by a single goal, 4-3.
Celis tied it up with his third goal of the game in the third and Luis Escobar converted a penalty shot to give Port Mayaca its first lead of the game. Roldan responded with
a penalty goal for Piaget, however, and the first half ended in a 5-5 tie.
Jeff Hall’s first goal of the game put Piaget back in front, 6-5 in the opening minute of the fourth. Orthwein tied it at 6-6 with a penalty conversion and goals from Celis
and Mandelbaum had Port Mayaca leading by two goals, 8-6. Piaget pressed its attack, resulting in a pair of penalties that put Roldan at the line. Two conversions tied it up again at 8-8 as the chukker ended.
Orthwein scored from the field for Port Mayaca, to lead Piaget 9-8, but goals from Hall and Ganzi (penalty conversion) ended the period with Piaget leading, 10-9.
The speed and intensity of play increased with every minute of play, and an inopportune foul allowed Orthwein to level the score at 10-10 with a penalty goal. Following the throw-in, Port Mayaca carried the ball down toward the Piaget goal where Escobar slammed the through the goal posts. Another penalty conversion by Escobar had Port Mayaca on top of a 12-10 score with just a couple of minutes left to play. Orthwein’s fourth goal of the game gave Port Mayaca a 13-10 edge with precious little time left. Hall scored the final goal of the game for Piaget, but it was Port Mayaca that would be riding off the field with the 13-11 victory.
“They were a very tough team,” said Celis, following the game. “It was a very difficult game.”
“It wasn’t an easy win,” added Port Mayaca team captain Stevie Orthwein. “We worked hard for every goal we got.”
“It was a total team effort,” said 7-goaler Luis Escobar. “Everyone did their job, every
man played his position. It was a good win,” he smiled.
Orthwein and Celis scored four goals apiece for Port Mayaca. Escobar added three goals and Mandelbaum accounted for two goals in the win.
Roldan was credited with five goals for Piaget. Hall and Ganzi scored three goals apiece.
Tournament play continues on Tuesday, Nov. 15th when Audi (0-1) meets Flat Out (0-0). KIG will play Flat Out on Thursday, Nov. 17th.