Shack Attack Wrangle Overtime Victory in U.S. Open Polo Championship®
Wednesday’s action in the U.S. Open Polo Championship at the National Polo Center – Wellington (NPC), featured Shack Attack (Santino Magrini, Ignacio ‘Nachi’ Viana, Kristos ‘Keko’ Magrini, Santiago ‘Santi’ Toccalino) against La Fe (Roberto ‘Robi’ Bilbao, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Francisco Elizalde, Louis Devaleix).
Assembling on Isla Carroll East, Shack Attack and La Fe began their contested battle largely from the field. Combining for just six fouls in the first half, Shack Attack lent on the firepower of Keko Magrini, as La Fe relied on Elizalde to deliver offensively. Sending four goals through the posts on six shots, Magrini was barely outshot by Elizalde, as the 9-goaler accounted for five of La Fe’s goals to take a 6-5 lead into the break. Continuing to perform for La Fe, Elizalde kept the pressure on Shack Attack, adding another seven to the scoreboard in the second half. Finding success from the line for Shack Attack, Toccalino converted four penalty goals, but it would be the prowess of Elizalde to send the match into overtime tied 11-all. Digging in on both sides, Keko Magrini missed the goal on two drives, while Elizalde also came up short, finally a booming Penalty 5 conversion off the mallet of Toccalino captured the hard-fought 12-11 victory.
Best Playing Pony was awarded to “Taita Fe,” played and owned by Francisco Elizalde.
Upcoming Schedule:
Thursday, March 30
Valiente (0-0) vs Palm Beach Equine (0-0) at 11:00am ET
All games of the U.S. Open Polo Championship will be livestreamed exclusively on the USPA Polo Network.
Photo Credit: David Lominska