12 goal USPA Intra Circuit

12 goal USPA Intra Circuit

The 12 goal season in Santa Barbara closed out Sunday with two great games played under sunny skies.


In the curtain raiser consolation game, the two teams switched rosters around for variety. Long Beach/ Mansour (Ben Soleimani, Santi von Wernich, Danny Walker, and Henry Walker) played La Karina (Brian Boyd, Joel Baker, Santi Wulff, an Matt Walker). The game was fast and open. La Karina got the go ahead goal from Brian Boyd for the win, 12-11.

The final of the USPA Intra- Circuit was a battle, with each team directed by a wily polo general, each a master of tactics. Memo Gracida was directing traffic for Earth Polo team, sending his troops down the field for pinpoint passes, while for Mr Cecils Santiago Trotz was the commander, giving his young teammates confidence and breaking up plays in the middle of the field with his trademark handy horses.

The game started out in Mr Cecil’s favor, as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Patron Jonathon Burrows got a great goal on his favorite horse “Short Ribs” to give Mr Cecils the momentum. In the 3rd chukker Earth Polo clawed thir way back to within one, all the goals coming from Memo. Earth Polo dominated the 4th chukker as well, but fouls proved costly for them as Mr Cecils scored on two penalty 2s and the teams ended up tied at the end of the 4th at 6 goals apiece.

Mr Cecils had some fast horses on the horse list for the 5th chukker, however, as they outscored Earth Polo 4-1 in the 5th, with the lone Earth Polo goal that chukker coming John Benitz. Tensions were high leading into the (possibly) final chukker. Memo has made a few comebacks here and there so the crowd was holding their breath to see if he could do it again. He scored early in the 6th, and then Jessica Baily made a great shot for Earth Polo to make it a one point game. With less then a minute to go Earth Polo controlled a throw in at the boards and Memo headed to goal, but Santi Trotz made the  save of the day to ride off Memo and send a huge nearside neck shot to the boards as the bell sounded.

Final score was 10-9 in favor of Mr Cecils. Santiago Trotz was awarded MVP and his horse Pampleano was awarded BPP.

Earlier this week, we had the 12 goal awards dinner. Santiago Wulff won Best String, Santiago Trotz was awarded MVP of the season, and Marianito Gracida won Most Improved. Danny Walker was crowned “Mr 12 Goal” for his efforts in recruiting teams and promoting the 12 goal season.