Northern Trust Remains Undefeated In USPA Sieber Memorial At Grand Champions Polo Club

Northern Trust Remains Undefeated
In USPA Sieber Memorial At
Grand Champions Polo Club

Looking for its second 12-goal tournament title, Northern Trust remained unbeaten in the USPA Sieber Memorial 12-Goal tournament in the Saturday Feature Game at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Northern Trust (Maureen Brennan, 1, Peke Gonzalez, 1, Steve Krueger, 3, Mariano Gonzalez, 7), after a slow start in the opening two chukkers, came back to defeat Patagones (Santiago Avendano, 0, Gene Goldstein, 1, Santi Wulff, 5, Michel Dorignac, 6), 12-8, to improve to 3-0.

Northern Trust MVP Mariano Gonzalez hits the ball downfield despite Patagones’ Santiago Avendano defending. Photo by Rob Bowman

Northern Trust, one of four tournament bracket winners along with SDFarms, Faraway and defending champion Catamount, now advance into Wednesday’s semifinals. Faraway plays Northern Trust at 10 a.m. on Field 2 at Grand Champions and Catamount plays SDFarms at 1 p.m. at Jan Pamela Field.

Gonzalez scored a game-high seven goals and was named Most Valuable Player.

Both teams needed the opening two chukkers to find their rhythm. Wulff scored the only goal of the first chukker at the 2:41 mark in the first chukker on a 60-yard penalty shot.

Maureen Brennan of Northern Trust maintains possession despite pressure from Santiago Avendano of Patagones. Photo by Rob Bowman

“There’s no real reason it took us a while to get going,” Brennan said. “It wasn’t happening in the first two chukkers and then we got involved.

“I think our team is getting better every game definitely,” Brennan said.

Northern Trust teammates Steve Krueger, MVP Mariano Gonzalez, Peke Gonzalez and Maureen Brennan with Grand Champions Polo Club’s award presenter Juan Bollini. Photo by Rob Bowman

Northern Trust, winners of last month’s Limited Edition Series tournament, has high hopes to win every tournament during the winter season at Grand Champions.

“For me, always,” Brennan said. “I always plan to win every tournament I go in without a doubt. I work backwards from the finals. I plan to be in the finals and then schedule everything backwards from there.

“This team is everything I expected, totally living up to my expectations.”

Patagones’ Gene Goldstein works the ball out of a crowd. Photo by Rob Bowman

The momentum started to pick up late in the second chukker with more offensive punch from both teams.

Dorignac’s early goal gave Patagones a 2-0 lead. Mariano Gonzalez came back with a goal to trail 2-1 but Dorignac added another goal for a 3-1 Patagones lead.

MVP Mariano Gonzalez of Northern Trust shows his winning form. Photo by Rob Bowman

Gonzalez’ penalty goal with 2:21 left in the chukker and his 15-year-old son Peke’s goal from the field a minute later enabled Northern Trust to find its rhythm.

After Mariano Gonzalez’ 30-yard penalty shot sailed wide, Peke Gonzalez came back with another goal for Northern Trust. Dorignac and Wulff added two goals to enable Patagones to take a 4-3 lead after the second chukker.

Santi Wulff and Santiago Avendano of Patagones try to win the ball in a crowd of defenders. Photo by Rob Bowman

It was the last time Northern Trust trailed in the game.

Mariano Gonzalez converted a 30-yard penalty shot to tie the game and Krueger scored from the field with 3:43 enabling Northern Trust to take a 5-4 lead. Northern Trust went on to shut out Patagones, 3-0, for a 7-4 halftime lead.

Peke Gonzalez of Northern Trust chases down the ball. Photo by Rob Bowman

Northern Trust took up where it left off dominating the fast-paced second half and leading by at least two goals for the remainder of the game. Patagones could get no closer than three goals in the fifth and sixth chukkers.

At 15, Peke Gonzalez continues to gain experience playing with and against top players at every level. Gonzalez was coming off a 20-goal Ylvisaker Cup game for Valiente as a substitute for an injured Robert Jornayvaz.

Gene Goldstein of Patagones grabs the ball out of the air and drives downfield.
Photo by Rob Bowman

“Our team is amazing, the players are good and all close friends,” Gonzalez said. “I like getting experience. I always say I want to play as much as I can at every level. I am learning a lot in every game I play.

“Today we started a little bit slow in the first and second then in the third we had a good one and just kept going,” Gonzalez said.

Catamount is defending champion of the 14-team tournament

The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber, who died from a polo-related accident 30 years ago at Oak Brook, Ill.

Maureen Brennan of Northern Trust chases after Gene Goldstein of Patagones with the ball. Photo by Rob Bowman

2015 POLO ON DEMAND

Grand Champions Polo Club, featuring five world-class fields, has a full schedule of tournaments from January to May. Let our polo experts create a turn-key experience including top pros to bring out the best in you and your team. Lessons are available.

12-GOAL TOURNAMENTS

FEBRUARY: USPA Sieber Memorial Trophy; FEBRUARY 24-March 7: $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament; MARCH: The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; APRIL: Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup

8-GOAL TOURNAMENTS:

FEBRUARY: USPA Cyril R. Harrison Trophy; MARCH: The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series and USPA Regional President’s Cup; APRIL: USPA Association Cup

6-GOAL TOURNAMENTS

FEBRUARY: Halo Polo Trophy; MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial; APRIL: Las Acacias

16-GOAL TOURNAMENTS:

MARCH: Santa Rita Abierto; APRIL: John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy

Peke Gonzalez of Northern Trust hooks Michel Dorignac of Patagones on his way to goal. Photo by Rob Bowman