EAST COAST OPEN

The East Coast Open continued today at Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. In the first game of the day Audi faced off against Airstream. Both teams took to the field aggressively, leading to many fouls in the first half. Audi’s Nic Roldan scored the first goal of the game on a converted Penalty 2 followed by a goal from Airstream’s Kris Kampsen. In a great display of teamwork Roldan drove the ball 160 yards to Marc Ganzi who made a cut shot to goal. Another goal for Audi, a nearside neck shot by Sebastian Merlos, ended the first chukker 3-1 in favor of Audi. Roldan made another goal for Audi in the second chukker, followed by a goal from Airstream’s Matias Magrini. Kampsen converted a penalty 4, however Audi maintained a one-goal lead going into the third chukker. Audi and Airstream exchanged goals at the start of the third as rough play continued. Kampsen received his second yellow flag of the game on a dangerous riding call, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the chukker, and the first 48 seconds of the fourth. 

Audi began the second half down a man, yet Roldan converted a penalty 2 for Audi widening their lead by two (6-4). Roldan’s penalty conversion was closely followed by another Audi goal from Leo Mandlebaum. Airstream pulled together by the middle of the chukker, scoring three goals to tie the score 7-7 going into the fifth. Airstream took the lead for the first time at the start of the chukker with a goal by Guille Aguero. Strong defensive plays by both teams kept the scoring low. Merlos capitalized on a penalty 2 for Audi, tying the game yet again going into the final chukker. The sixth chukker was intense with back-to-back goals for Merlos; a penalty 2 conversion and a goal from the field. Kampsen answered with a goal for Airstream bringing them within one goal of Audi. Merlos converted a penalty 4 (his sixth goal of the game, and third of the chukker) to give Audi a two-goal lead once again. With the clock winding down, Aguero scored for Airstream. Airsteam however, was unable to tie the game again, and Audi took the win 11-10. 

In the fourth game of bracket play Postage Stamp Farm competed against Tupungato. Postage Stamp Farm took a commanding lead straight out of the gate with three-consecutive goals, two by Salva Ulloa and one from Joao Paulo Ganon. Naco Taverna answered with a goal from the field to put Tupungato on the board at the end of the first chukker. Postage Stamp Farm continued their momentum in the second chukker with two combined goals from Ganon and Ulloa, followed by a goal from Taverna. Postage Stamp Farm dominated in the third with five combined goals; two penalty 3 conversions from Ganon, two goals from Ulloa and one from Brandon Phillips. Solid defensive plays by Annabelle Gundlach and skillful teamwork involving one-tap passes between Ganon, Ulloa and Phillips kept Postage Stamp Farm in control of the game. However, Taverna was once again able to sneak in a final goal for Tupungato and the chukker ended 10-3 in favor of Postage Stamp Farm.

After the half, scoring slowed for Postage Stamp with a solitary goal from Ganon (his fifth of the day). In the fifth and sixth chukkers Tupungato slowly began to chip away at their eight goal deficit. Luis Rinaldini had a near goal which was backed over the sideboards and out of play by Ganon. The throw-in was marked by a foul and Tupungato was awarded a penalty 3. Gaston Lisioli scored the penalty shot with ease and Taverna followed with a skillful neck shot goal to end the chukker 11-5. Phillips led the sixth chukker scoring with a goal from the field countered by a goal from Taverna, bringing the score to 12-6. In the last 43 seconds of regulation time, a final goal from Taverna, the game high-scorer with a total of six goals, closed out the game 12-7 in favor of Postage Stamp Farm. According to Phillips, “Today went well. We stuck to our game plan to hit the first time and make simple plays. Just playing classic and open really helped today.”

Complete game schedule and team rosters here.

All East Coast Open Cames will be livestreamed on ChukkerTV. NBC Sports Network will rebroadcast the East Coast Open Finals on September 17 at 3:00pm ET.