Audi drives past Piaget in USPA North America Cup finals
ByAlex Webbe
It wasn’t the first time that Marc Ganzi and his wife Melissa Ganzi would meet in high-goal competition as they led their teams into Sunday afternoon’s finals of the 2012 USPA North America Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, but it would be a memorable one with Audi driving off with a narrow 6-5 victory.
Marc Ganzi’s Audi team (Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida) would take the early lead with Marc Ganzi scoring agoal in the open seconds of play. Both defenses established their presence for the balance of the first chukker for a1-0 Audi advantage.
Melissa Ganzi’s Piaget foursome (Melissa Ganzi, JeffHall, Juan Bollini and Juan Badiola) finally got on the scoreboard in thesecond period on a penalty conversion from Jeff Hall. Audi picked up an additional two goals in thesecond for a two goal, 3-1, lead.
Audi’s defense shut out Piaget again in the third periodand added another Roldan goal to move ahead, 4-1 at the end of the first half.
Roldan scored his third consecutive goal of the game inthe fourth chukker. The Piaget offensewas unable to score again as Audi rode off to a 5-1 lead after four chukkers.
Juan Badiola scored a goal from the field for Piaget’sfirst score since the second period. Audi was shut out for the first time all afternoon, but continued tolead, 5-2.
Piaget continued to press the attack, cashing in on Audipenalties. Three consecutive penaltyconversions from Jeff Hall tied it up in the sixth, 5-5, but Audi would strikeback. A Piaget penalty sent Marc Ganzito the foul line where he converted the shot for the winning goal in the 6-5game.
Audi’s Carlitos Gracida was named MVP while Jeff Hall’sseven-year-old Bay Thoroughbred mare, Smooth,was honored as Best Playing Pony.