La Fe, La Elina, and Tamera Close-Out Bracket Play in U.S. Open Polo Championship® Victorious
In an eventful day of jam-packed polo in the U.S. Open Polo Championship hosted by the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC), La Fe (Roberto ‘Robi’ Bilbao, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Francisco Elizalde, Louis Devaleix) went head-to-head against Two Trees by Jefferies (Will Johnston, Mariano Aguerre, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Juan Sánchez Elia sub. Victorino ‘Toro’ Ruiz Jorba), followed by Aspen (Mariano Gonzalez, Francisco ‘Pancho’ Bensadon, Rufino Bensadon, Stewart Armstrong) facing La Elina (Matt Coppola, Nicolas ‘Nico’ Escobar, Jeff Hall, Jared Zenni). In the final match of Tuesday’s tripleheader, Pilot (Curtis Pilot, Matias ‘Colo’ Gonzalez, Matias Torres Zavaleta, Facundo Pieres) met Tamera (Alejandro Poma, Pedro ‘Pedrinho’ Zacharias, Diego Cavanagh, Segundo Saravi).
Igniting the action at Isla Carroll West, Elizalde managed to create separation in the second on a run of three unanswered goals. Taking advantage to the foul line, Two Trees by Jefferies’ Astrada, and Elia each converted at the line but six off the mallet of Elizalde gave La Fe a 7-5 edge at the break. Continuing to apply offensive pressure, La Fe kick-started the second half posting a four goal chukker, but Two Trees by Jefferies began to rally in the fifth. Filling in for an injured Astrada, Jorba combined with Aguerre to answer with a four-goal rally of their own, but ultimately Two Trees by Jefferies’ late push fell short as La Fe hung on for the 11-9 win.
Trading goals to open the match, La Elina broke through in the second as all four players reached the scoreboard. Managing just one goal from the field on nine shots, Bensadon led Aspen’s first half offense with two conversions, as La Elina’s commanding start earned them a 6-3 lead. Goals from Zenni, Coppola and Hall opened the fourth for La Elina with Bensadon remaining Aspen’s driving force. Carrying a commanding five-goal lead into the sixth, three more goals from a balanced La Elina effort delivered them the 14-8 victory.
Wrapping up the tripleheader, Pilot’s Pieres continued his bid to reach the one-hundred goal mark on the season, as Tamera was still searching for their first victory of the tournament. Determined to keep themselves within striking distance of Pilot’s sharpshooters, goals from Poma and Saravi placed Tamera within one at the half. Outscoring the efforts of Pieres in the fourth, Tamera’s 9-goaler Cavanagh dug in to tie the match 6-all. Trading goals in the fifth, Cavanagh and Saravi struck once more, where despite an eight-goal performance from Pieres, a united effort from Tamera in the field allowed them to pull off the upset 10-9.
Best Playing Pony was awarded to Francisco Elizalde’s “La Fulana,” Jeff Hall’s “Machitos Gatsby,” and Diego Cavanagh’s “Machitos Meseta.”
Upcoming Schedule:
U.S. Open Polo Championship Quarterfinals
Saturday, April 15
Dazos (2-0) vs Pilot (1-2) at 10:00am ET
Scone (2-0) vs Valiente (3-0) at 3:00pm ET
All games of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will be livestreamed exclusively on the USPA Polo Network.
Photo Credit: David Lominska