The winning US team, L to R-Coach Joel Baker, Will Tankard, Mason Wroe, Patrick Uretz, Felipe Viana, Jesse Bray and Jared Sheldon.
(Photo by Elizabeth Hedley)
Mexico (JJ de Alba, Alejandro Gonzalez, Vale Aguilar and Julio Gracida) hung close for the opening chukkers of the FIP Zone A final, but lost control of the game in the third as the US team (Jared Sheldon, Jesse Bray, Felipe Viana and Patrick Uretz) scored six consecutive goals on their way to a 10-3 victory.
Felipe Viana scored the first goal of the game on a penalty conversion that was countered by a goal from the field from Mexico’s Vale Aguilar, 1-1. A second goal from Viana closed out the chukker with the United States in front, 2-1.
Second chukker action saw Viana convert his second penalty shot, 3-1. Julio Gracida responded with a goal for Mexico to cut the lead to a single goal, 3-2. Jesse Bray’s first goal of the day put the US team on top, 4-2 at the end of the second period.
An oppressive US defense held Mexico scoreless in the third. Viana added his third penalty goal of the game and Bray scored his second from the field. After three chukkers the United States led by four goals, 6-2.
The goals just kept coming for the US team as fourth period play began. Two more goals from the field from Viana and a closing goal from Jared Sheldon were complimented by shutout defense for the second consecutive chukker. With one period left to play Mexico trailed by seven goals, 9-2.
With the game all but decided, the two teams traded goals in the fifth and final chukker. Bray scored the first goal of the final chukker for an eight goal, 10-2 advantage. Alejandro Gonzalez scored the last goal of the game as the United States celebrated the 10-3 win and an invitation to the 2015 FIP World Polo Championship in Chile in March.
Viana led all scoring with six goals. Bray was credited with three goals and Sheldon added a goal in the win. Mexico received single goals from Gracida, Aguilar and Gonzalez.
“We’re thrilled with the win,” said Melissa Ganzi, the president of the Grand Champions Polo club in Wellington that served as the training site for the US team in November. “They have a lot of talent, and we’re hoping that they’re going to bring the title home in March.”
For four weeks the members of the US team trained as a unit at the Grand Champions Polo Club. Through a series of tournaments and contributing coaching from some of the top American players, the US team jelled.
After struggling in their first couple of tournaments in Wellington they began to play as a team and continued that process as they systematically ran over Canada, the Dominican Republic and Mexico to capture an invitation to Chile.
Over the curse of the competition, the US team averaged 10 goals per game while giving up less than five goals per.
Viana finished the competition with 12 goals to his credit. Sheldon scored nine times; Bray eight; and Uretz scored once from the Back position.