Audi downs Flat Out, 8–6, in National 20–goal Tournament

Audi drives past Flat Out, 8-6, in USPA National Twenty
Goal Tournament

By
Alex Webbe

Audi (1-1) evened its record in USPA National Twenty Goal
action on Tuesday morning with an 8-6 win over Flat Out (0-1) on the fields of
the Palm City Polo Club in Boca Raton.

Audi received one goal by handicap from the 18-goal Flat
Out team (9-goaler Pite Merlos played in place of 7-goaler Jota Chavanne), but
couldn’t score a goal from the field until over four minutes into the
chukker.  Juan Bollini split the goal
posts for a 2-0 Audi lead, as Flat Out was unable to break through the Audi
defense.

A penalty conversion from Audi team captain Melissa Ganzi
and a goal from the field from Kris Kampsen had Audi ahead, 4-0 before Flat Out
found its offense.  Single goals from Pite
Merlos and Diego Cossio finally got Flat Out on the scoreboard, and the second
period ended with Audi driving off with a 4-2 advantage.

An invigorated Flat Out took the field in the third
chukker playing shut-out defense while picking up a penalty goal from Paul
Knapp and a goal from the field from Cossio. 
After three chukkers of play the score was all even at 4-4.

Kampsen scored the first goal of the second half for
Audi, but Ruben Gracida evened it up again at 5-5 with a penalty goal to end
the chukker.

Both teams continued to play heads-up defense as drive
after drive was turned away.  Audi’s Jason
Crowder scored the first goal of the period, but Cossio responded with a goal
for Flat Out.  After five chukkers of
action the score was all even at 6-6.

Bollini finally managed to break through the Flat Out
defense for a go-ahead goal, and Crowder scored an insurance goal as Audi rode
on to celebrate the 8-6 victory.

Flat Out’s Cossio led all scoring with three goals.  Teammates Knapp, Gracida and Merlos added
single goals in the loss.

Kampsen, Bollini and Crowder scored two goals apiece for
Audi.  Ganzi added a goal and Audi
received one goal by handicap.

Flat Out (0-1) will return to the field on Thursday
afternoon at 3:30 pm at the Grand Champions Polo Club where they will meet KIG
(1-0).