Audi Parks it In the Winner’s Circle
By Alex Webbe
Kris Kampsen led the Audi attack with nine goals to score an impressive 16-12 win over Lucchese in the finals of the 2009 USPA Lucchese America Cup Sunday afternoon at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, successfully defending its 2008 America Cup title.
“My teammates are great,” said Kampsen following the match, “they did everything to make this happen. It’s a great team win,” he added.
Lucchese got on the board early on a penalty goal from Mike Azzaro before Audi’s Juan Bollini evened it with a penalty conversion of his own. Kampsen scored his first goal of the game from the field followed by a penalty goal from Lucchese’s Julio Gracida to even it at 2-2. Consecutive goals from Kampsen and Luis Escobar had Audi ahead, 4-2 before Azzaro scored on a 40-yard penalty shot to end the chukker with Audi ahead, 4-3.
Two goals from Escobar in the second chukker were followed by another successful Kampsen penalty shot to put Audi up 7-3 when Azzaro got back to work for Lucchese. Two goals from the field by Azzaro kept Lucchese in the game, trailing, 7-5.
Audi extended its lead to 9-6 in the third period with two more goals from Kampsen. Azzaro converted a 40-yard penalty shot as Audi left the field with a three-goal lead.
Lucchese must have benefitted from halftime coaching tips as they took to the field with a vengeance in the fourth chukker. A penalty goal from Gracida was followed by a goal from the field by Azzaro. Kampsen scored from the field to keep Audi two goals ahead, 10-8, but a penalty goal from Azzaro was followed by another Gracida score and the game was knotted at 10-10.
With seconds remaining in the chukker, Bollini hit a neckshot from the boards from nearly 140 yards out that bounced once before crossing the goal line to give Audi an 11-10 lead as the horn sounded.
The momentum swung in Audi’s direction as they took the field in the fifth chukker. Three consecutive goals by Audi (two from Kampsen and an Escobar field goal) had them up 14-10 as Lucchese struggled to get back into the game. Muse scored his first goal of the day followed by a 30-yard penalty conversion from Gracida and the chukker ended with Audi up, 14-12.
Kampsen was all over the field in the final chukker, crediting his teammates with precision passing and great play-making as he scored his ninth goal of the day on a penalty shot. Lucchese seemed to have the wind taken out of its sails with Bollini’s fourth chukker goal, and despite their best efforts, couldn’t manage to put any substantial threat together in the final minutes of play. Bollini iced the match when he intercepted a Lucchese backshot and broke away from the pack to score his third goal of the game for the final 16-12 win.
Kampsen led all scoring with nine goals. Escobar scored four goals and Bollini added three to the Audi total.
Azzaro scored seven times for Lucchese. Gracida added four goals and Muse scored once in the loss.
Kampsen was named MVP for his efforts while Mike Azzaro’s 13-year-old grey mare Horizon received Best Playing Pony honors.
GRANTS FARM 14, PATAGONES 10
Grants Farm scored a 14-10 win over Patagones in the consolation match of the America Cup as Jeff Hall scored eight times in the victory.
Trailing throughout the first half, Grants Farm came back with four unanswered goals in the fourth chukker to take an 11-10 lead.
Patagones rallied behind two penalty goals from Brandon Phillips in the fifth period but trailed 12-10 going into the final period.
Shutout defense secured the Grants Farm win as it got single goals from Hall and Sugar Erskine in the final chukker for the 14-10 win.