Pony Express Wins Top Pony 12-Goal Saturday Feature Game At Grand Champions; Tomas Goti Named MVP
Pony Express took control early and dominated the game from start-to-finish for an impressive 16-7 victory over Buckhead Saturday in the feature game of the Top Pony 12-Goal Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Pony Express’ offense jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two chukkers and relentless defense shut out Buckhead in the second and fifth chukkers in one of its finest games of the winter season.
Argentine and long time Pony Express player Tomas Goti was named Most Valuable Player for the first time this season and shared his victory with his young sons Matteo and Santos after the game.
It was just as satisfying for player-patron Bob Daniels who played alongside his 14-year-old son Justin, a freshman at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. Justin Daniels returned to the lineup recently after being sidelined with an injury.
Goti scored a game-high eight goals including three on penalty shots. Teammate Julian de Luzarreta had six goals, Bob Daniels scored two and Justin Daniels added one goal.
Pelon Escapite led Buckhead scoring with five goals and Nigerian Sayyu Dantata added two goals.
“We did not expect to dominate the game like this,” Goti said. “Pelon and Ulysses Escapite are really good and I know Sayyu from playing in Nigeria and he is a good player.
“Today we came with Justin to play after he recovered from his injury and we were used to playing with him from last year and he did a great job,” Goti said. “Julian played awesome today, he played really well. And Bob scored two goals and played well.
“We played well as a team and they had a bit of bad luck. It is a pleasure to play with this team. I enjoy it very much.”
No one enjoyed it more than Bob Daniels.
“Today was really fun,” said the longtime player. “I didn’t expect this kind of game. We got a good start. We have a good team. Tomas has played with us for seven years. We have our good days and this was one of them.”
Daniels scored two goals and admitted “I should have had two more.
“I was right in the goal mouth with a really good run all the way down the field and Pelon backed the ball in a split second,” Daniels said. “I watched my mallet get to the ball and his mallet came through with more power. It was a really nice play.”
Daniels got his sons Justin and Benji involved with the game and they both have been competing with him at Grand Champions, which is known for nurturing and developing young players in every level tournament.
“I love it, it’s fun playing with them and see them coming along,” Daniels said. “They are improving by the week.”
Earlier in the week, Pony Express won the Halo Polo Trophy 5-Goal Tournament title with a 4-2 victory over La Casa Hermosa. Goti had three goals and Benji Daniels added one.
The instant replay was used extensively during the game. For the second consecutive week, teams were allowed two challenges per half instead of one challenge per half. The PoloNow Network production crew of Mike Ferreira and Eric Monahan were busy viewing replays during the game for the umpires.
Since its January worldwide debut, Grand Champions is the only club to consistently use the state-of-the art instant replay technology.
More Top Pony 12-Goal Tournament Results
Casablanca 11, The Villages 9: Nic Roldan led scoring with five goals. Teammates Carlitos Gracida had three, Juan Bollini two and Grant Ganzi one. Francisco Bilbao had a game-high six goals for The Villages.
Hawk Hill 11, The Villages 9: Mariano Gracida led scoring with four goals, Matt Coppola and Gringo Colombres each scored three goals and Phillip MacTaggart had one goal for the winners.
SLS Jets 15, Tulum/Tuff Riders 14: Guille Usandizaga scored 12 goals including the game-winner. Andres Weisz had a game-high 13 goals Tulum/Tuff Riders.
Far Niente 12, Equuleus 8: Kris Kampsen scored a game-high 11 goals and Mariano Gracida added one.
For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go to www.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
Game video and live webcasts can also be seen at PoloNow Network at http://www.polonow.tv/.
2014 HIGH GOAL SEASON
MARCH 7-23: USPA Piaget Gold Cup: Thursday, Audi vs. Flight Options, 3 p.m.; MARCH 16, Orchard Hill vs. Flight Options, noon; Audi vs. Alegria, 3 p.m.; MARCH 19, Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 20, Butler Handicap Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 23, Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final, 3 p.m.
MARCH 26-APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships
GRAND CHAMPIONS @ PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)
MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5-goal); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; March 15-31, Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals); March 23-31, March 23-31, $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament.
APRIL: Las Acacias (5-goal); USPA Association Cup (8- goal); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goal); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16-goal).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
MARCH 17: Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament
APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament
APRIL 8-12: Women’s Championship Tournament
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.