Cambiaso Takes Lucchese to the Winner’s Circle Again
By Alex Webbe
As if to put an exclamation mark on the win, 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso scored eleven of Lucchese’s fifteen goals as they rolled over Piocho Ranch 15-10 in the finals of the 2010 USPA Lucchese America Cup at the Santa Barbara Polo Club Sunday afternoon.
In the wake of Cambiaso’s sweep of the high goal season in Wellington, Florida and his sweep of the high goal season in England, there remains just one more obstacle in his path before he can claim a sweep of the California high goal season-the Bombardier Pacific coast Open.
“I doubt if anyone would disagree with you if you said that Cambiaso was two goals better than any other 10-goaler in the game today,†said polo veteran Steve Crowder, who’s son Jason Crowder plays for the Lucchese team. “In all my years of polo,†he added, “I have never seen a player do what he does on the field.â€
Lucchese took a perfect 3-0 record into the finals, and wasted little time establishing control of the game. An opening goal from Jason Crowder was followed up by a goal from Cambiaso, and the race was on. Carlos Gracida got Piocho Ranch on the scoreboard with his first goal of the game, but Cambiaso put Lucchese ahead 3-1 at with his second goal of the chukker.
Memo Gracida cut the Lucchese lead to a single goal with his first score of the game, but Cambiaso scored from the field to maintain a two goal lead, 4-2. Carlos Gracida and Cambiaso each converted penalty shots, and the chukker ended with Lucchese on top of a 5-3 score.
Piocho’s Carlos Gracida scored again from the penalty line as the third chukker got underway, but Lucchese answered with a goal from Andres Weisz. Matias Zavaleta stroked the ball through the goal posts for Piocho, but another penalty conversion by Cambiaso had Lucchese taking a 7-5 to the sidelines with them at the end of the first half.
“They (Piocho) stayed close in the first half,†offered Pro Chukker’s Mike Moertl, “but they (Piocho) missed a couple of close goals in the early going after long well-orchestrated runs, and you just can’t miss opportunities like that when you’re playing Cambiaso.â€
A determined Lucchese took the field in the fourth chukker, and the hoards of spectators that traveled all the way from Los Angeles to see the game’s greatest player were not disappointed. Four goals from Cambiaso were countered by a single goal from Memo Gracida, and there was little doubt as to the outcome of the match. Piocho Ranch trailed 11-6 and seemed to have no answer for the talented Argentine 10-goaler.
Cambiaso added two more penalty goals in the fifth chukker while Piocho was held to a single penalty score from Carlos Gracida. The chukker ended with Lucchese cruising to a 13-7 advantage over a determined but out-gunned Piocho team.
“They played well (the Gracidas),†said Steve Crowder, “but they just play different styles.â€
Weisz scored his second goal of the game to put Lucchese up 14-7 as Piocho continued to press the attack. Memo Gracida scored from the field and Carlos Gracida converted a penalty shot for a goal, but it wasn’t enough. A final goal from Cambiaso, his eleventh, sealed the deal, and Lucchese rode off the field 15-10 victors.
“He (Cambiaso) has certainly swelled the ranks of spectators,†said Moertl, “I personally know dozens of people who drove up here for the match today.â€
And they weren’t disappointed. They were treated to a spectacular display of horsemanship and cunning. They got to see the legendary Gracida brothers, who ruled polo for years, and the new king of the game, Cambiaso, battle it out in the friendly confines of the 101-year-old Santa Barbara Polo Club.
Cambiaso delighted all by scoring eleven goals, several of them accomplished on long, solo runs down the field. Teammates Andres Weisz and Jason Crowder scored two goals apiece, and team captain John Muse was credited with several runs of his won.
Carlos Gracida scored six times for Piocho. Memo Gracida added three goals and Zavaleta scored once in the loss. Team captain John Barrack gave a good account of himself despite playing with a broken left hand.
To no one’s surprise, Adolfo Cambiaso was named Most Valuable Player, while Carlos Gracida’s Ducati was named Best Playing Pony.
Play in the 2010 Bombardier Pacific coast Open will begin on Sunday, August 15 with the finals slated to be played on Sunday, August 29.
ZACARA 15, VALIENTE 13
In morning play, Valiente blew early leads as Zacara flexed its muscles and scored a 15-13 win over the talented foursome.
Valiente got a pair of goals from Kris Kampsen and a single goal from Nacho Astrada in the opening period of play as Zacara responded with single goals from Lyndon Lea and Jeff Hall. Valiente took the lead, 3-2.
Two goals from Juan Carlos Harriet and another goal from Kampsen had Valiente up 6-3 after the first two chukkers of play, with Zacara getting but a single goal from Argentine 9-goaler, Hilario Ulloa.
Kampsen’s fourth goal of the game had Valiente up 7-3 before Zacara came storming back. Two straight goals from the field from Hall and Ulloa’s second goal of the game cut the lead to a single goal at the end of the first half, with Valiente holding on to a precarious one goal lead, 7-6.
The fourth chukker was limited to a pair of goals from the field from Ulloa while Valiente answered with two penalty goals from Astrada. Valiente maintained the one goal margin, 9-8.
Zacara tied it and then took a one goal lead, as Ulloa scored twice from the field.
Kampsen responded with a goal from the field and Astrada converted a penalty shot for a goal, Valiente regained the narrow lead again, 11-10.
Valiente fouled in the waning moments of the fifth chukker, and Hall made good on the penalty shot. After five periods of play, the teams stood even at 11-11.
Hall scored the first two goals of the final chukker, followed by a goal from Ulloa. Zacara was up, 14-11.
Astrada scored two more times and Ulloa drove through his eighth goal of the game for the 15-13 win.
Ulloa led all scoring with eight goals. Hall was credited with six goals and Lea added one in the win.
Astrada led the Valiente team with six goals. Kampsen scored five times and Harriet accounted for two goals.
SANTA BARBARA 6, Jaipur 4
Behind five goals from Juan Bollini, a Santa Barbara team scored a 6-4 win over a visiting representative Jaipur (India) polo team in a four chukker exhibition match just before the 2010 USPA Lucchese America Cup finals.
The teams were tied 3-3 after the first two chukkers, and Santa Barbara actually trailed Jaipur 4-3 after three periods of play.
Two penalty conversions from Bollini and a goal from the field from Justin Klentner were accompanied by a great defensive effort as the Santa Barbara team was awarded the 6-5 win.