Palm Beach Equine downs Team USPA, 9–8

Palm Beach Equine downs Team USPA,9-8

By Alex Webbe

A veteran Palm Beach Equine polo team (Gene Goldstein, JeffBlake, Kris Kampsen and Scott Swerdlin) managed to hold took an early lead overTeam USPA (Jared Sheldon, Jesse Bray, Felipe Viana, Patrick Uretz and WillTankard) Friday afternoon and never trailed as they registered a 9-8 win toqualify for the final of the 2014 Palm Restaurant Invitational at the GrandChampions Polo Club in Wellington.

“They were about a third of our age,” smiled Palm BeachEquine team captain Scott Swerdlin after the match, “but they have a lot oftalent.”

Palm Beach Equine received one goal by handicap from the14-goal Team USPA, and was the first to score. Kris Kampsen made it 2-0 at the 4:46 mark but Team USPA stormed rightback.  Consecutive goals from Jesse Braytied it up at two goals apiece to end the opening chukker.

Penalties in the second period would come back to haunt TeamUSPA, with Kampsen converting two of them for goals and Jeff Blake scoring agoal from the field.  Patrick Uretzscored Team USPA’s only goal of the chukker on a well-executed neck shot.  At the end of the second chukker Palm BeachEquine was enjoying a 5-3 advantage over Team USPA.

Missed scoring opportunities by Team USPA kept their scoringto a minimum, with
Bray scoring his third goal of the day. Kampsen responded with another penalty conversion and Palm Beach Equinemaintained their two goal lead, 6-4, at the end of the first half.

Bray opened the second half by scoring a goal in the openingseconds of play.  A streaking Bray foundhimself on the scoring end of a pass from teammate Felipe Viana, cutting thePalm Beach Equine lead to a single goal, 6-5. A minute later Kampsen scored from the field to make it 7-5.  Viana put an exclamation on the final scoringshot of the chukker as he drilled the ball through the goalposts from over 100yards out.  The Palm Beach Equine leadhad been trimmed to a single goal, 7-6.

Palm Beach Equine was awarded a Penalty 1 as the fifthchukker got underway, 8-6, and another Team USPA foul sent Kampsen to thepenalty line where he converted the short shot for a 9-6 lead for the finalgoal of the period.

Team USPA continued to press the attack and Vianaspearheaded the final assault.  Vianascored twice in the final chukker of play, and the defense held but it wasn’tenough.  The final horn sounded with PalmBeach Equine on the winning end of the 9-8 score.

Kampsen led all scoring with six goals.  Blake scored once; the team was awarded agoal on a Penalty 1; and Palm Beach Equine received one goal by handicap forthe win.  Bray led the Team USPA attackwith four goals.  Viana scored threetimes and Uretz added a goal in the loss.

Team USPA coach, former 7-goaler Joel Baker, was on hand forthe match and thought that the players showed a great deal of promise.

“I’m here to observe and assess the abilities of the playersand try to find the best combination of players,” he said.

Team USPA has been working out with six players (Jesse Bray,Jared Sheldon, Patrick Uretz, Mason Wroe, Felipe Viana and Will Tankard),alternating throughout the last couple of weeks as they grow to know oneanother before departing for Zone competition in the Dominican Republic inDecember.

“We really didn’t play well as a team today,” saidCalifornia 4-goaler Jesse Bray.  “I thinkthat we played too much as individuals today,” he added.  “Everyone’s trying to show off their talentsas individuals, not concentrating on the team as a whole.  I’m confident that we’ll settle down and getit together.”

The FIP NorthAmerica Zone A Playoff for the United States team is being held at theCasa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic, December 6-14.