2015 USPA Piaget Gold Cup

The victory snapped the eight-game win streak of pre-tournament favorite Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, 1, Ezequiel Ferrario, 7, Polito Pieres, 9, Facundo Pieres, 10), winningest high goal team (15-2) this season making its third finals appearance in four tournaments.

Winning Audi teammates Marc Ganzi, Rodrigo Andrade, Grant Ganzi, Gonzalito Pieres and Freddie Mannix hoist the Piaget USPA Gold Cup.  Photo by Rob Bowman

Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Rodrigo Andrade, 9, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Freddie Mannix, 6), the tournament underdog, finished undefeated at 5-0 behind Gonzalito Pieres’ winning 30-yard penalty shot 31 seconds into overtime to clinch the second leg of the Triple Crown in front of a large crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience.

“There’s not a lot of people at the beginning of the season who thought Freddie and I could win,” Ganzi said. “I think we’re showing people that with a lot of heart, a lot of organization and disciplined play that you can win. You can beat the big guys.”

Gonzalito Pieres of Audi scores one of his game-high 10 goals.  Photo by Rob Bowman

It was the second consecutive game Pieres scored the winning goal on a penalty shot. In the semifinals against Las Monjitas, the Argentine 9-goaler scored a 30-yard penalty shot with 25 seconds left in regulation for a 13-12 win.

“I say a little prayer before I hit it,” Pieres said. “I must confess I did do a double take before making the attempt.

“This is such a big win for this team. We knew when we put this team together it was something special. Today we lived up to that potential. We wanted Marc on the field today. He has worked so hard to get us here. He had to be on the field.”

MVP Gonzalito Pieres of Audi ahead of the pack for the ball.  Photo by Rob Bowman

Pieres was named Most Valuable Player, an award he shared with teammates especially a gutsy Ganzi, who played the entire game with a separated right shoulder sustained during Wednesday’s semifinals.

Team trainer Daniel Martinez worked with Ganzi for nearly 30 hours with various treatment in the last three days. Ganzi’s upper body was fully taped for the game. He said he decided to play 20 minutes before the game.

Marc Ganzi of Audi defends Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill while teammate Gonzalito Pieres works the ball downfield. Photo by Rob Bowman

“I was surprised how good I felt this morning after stick-and- ball,” Ganzi said. “I was hitting the ball really well. I wasn’t missing so I felt like I had the confidence to keep going. And, my teammates said they wanted me to play.”

Ganzi’s 16-year-old son Grant, who filled in for his father in Wednesday’s semifinal game, was in the players’ tent prepared to play.

Pieres finished with a team-high 10 goals including seven on penalty shots. Pieres’ younger brother Facundo scored 11 goals for Orchard Hill, including six penalty shots. Their cousin Polito, added three goals.

Gonzalito Pieres of Audi hooks Polito Pieres of Orchard Hill.  Photo by Rob Bowman

Audi won the Piaget USPA Gold Cup in 2011 with Ganzi, Pieres and Andrade. Mannix won the Gold Cup in 2005 with Audi Millarville. Pieres has played with Ganzi since 2006.

“This is better (than 2011),” Ganzi said. “Freddie and I have been friends for ten years. The first high goal chance I got to play was with Fred in the 22-goal when I was a 1-goaler. He’s a good friend. To win with your friends is incomparable. We worked so hard to get back here.”

Gonzalito Pieres’ Rosparita, was named Best Playing Pony. Photo by Alex Pacheco.

Pieres’ horse, Rosparita, ridden in the second, sixth and overtime chukkers, was named Best Playing Pony. Polito Pieres’ fourth-chukker horse, Jackie, was selected Horse of the Tournament.

“It was a really good win,” Pieres said. “We never lost our composure. We kept our heads.”

“The game was incredible,” said Mannix, who escaped serious injury in the fourth chukker when his horse stumbled with Mannix landing on his back. “Just incredible.

Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill and Freddie Mannix of Audi battle it out for the ball. Photo by Rob Bowman.

“Polito made a great play with an amazing goal and Facundo had an incredible goal,” Mannix said. “Gonzalito is a 10-goaler out there and is ice when it comes to penalty shots. It would have been hard not to win this game. We played our hearts out. What a game.”

Audi was leading 15-13 with 2:03 left and looked to have the game wrapped up when Orchard Hill rallied. Polito Pieres stole the ball and scored on a breakaway at 1:22. Facundo Pieres then worked his way through defenders to score with four second left, knocking the goal post down.

Brothers Gonzalito Pieres of Audi and Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill keep their eye on the ball. Photo by Rob Bowman

Audi converted 8 of 13 and Orchard Hill 9 of 16 in field shots. Audi scored 7 of 10 penalties and Orchard Hill 6 of 9. Orchard Hill led in fouls, 17-11, and throw-ins, 20-9.

It was the third time Audi has scored 16 goals in a single game and scored 72 goals in five games in the eight-team, 26-goal tournament.

Audi defeated defending U.S. Open champion Alegria, 16-13, Engel & Volkers, 11-7 and Las Monjitas twice, 16-12 and 13-12.

Rodrigo Andrade of Audi maintains possession between two defenders.  Photo by Rob Bowman

Playing in its first tournament as a team, Audi was a well-oiled machine working together on all cylinders under the guidance and watchful eye of Audi coach Hector Guerrero.

In the subsidiary Engel & Volkers Tesoro Cup, Coca-Cola defeated Lechuza Caracas, 14-11. Gillian Johnston, one of only two women playing high goal polo at IPC, was named Most Valuable Player. Pelon Stirling’s horse Renato was named Best Playing Pony.

Eight high goal teams have five days to rest and prepare for the U.S. Open that begins Saturday. Grand Champions Polo Club pro-based teams Audi and FlexJet will play Sunday at 10 a.m.

Freddie Mannix of Audi drives downfield with Facundo Pieres of Orchard Hill defending. Photo by Rob Bowman

The use of instant replay and team challenges during the 26-goal season continue to make a positive difference in the game. It’s been praised by players and patrons. Both Audi and Orchard Hill used the team challenges in the final.

ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, introduced the state-of-the-art technology in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club where it got rave reviews about the cutting-edge technology to help improve the sport and officiating.

Grand Champions was the first polo club in the world to offer the technology where teams are allowed to challenge an umpire’s call during a game.

Facundo Pieres of Audi hits the ball out of the air. Photo by Rob Bowman

It is the first time in the sport’s history, instant replay and team challenges are being utilized. No club in the world has used the technology. Only replays are used in Argentina and other tournaments around the world.

Audi, one of the most successful polo teams in the last decade and 2009 U.S. Open champion, is sponsored by the German automobile manufacturer that designs, engineers, produces, markets and distributes luxury automobiles. Audi, founded in 1909, oversees its worldwide operations from its headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany.

Rodrigo Andrade helps Audi claim the USPA Piaget Gold Cup win.  Photo by Alex Pacheco.

Chukker TV.com is live streaming all IPC high polo games through April 19th in addition to various Grand Champions Polo Club tournament games and also offers re-broadcasts, Video On Demand and player interviews.

Freddie Mannix of Audi leads the charge downfield. Photo by Rob Bowman