US Open: Audi vs. Pony Express

Audi Over Pony Express 11-9


By Alex Webbe


 


Audi (3-0) made it three in a row with an 11-9 win over Pony Express (1-2) Saturday morning at the International Polo Club in Wellington.  The victory gives Audi a perfect 3-0 record in 2009 United States Open play and assures it of a spot in next Wednesday’s semifinals.


 


Audi came out of the opening throw-in at full tilt, with team captain Marc Ganzi scoring the first goal of the game.  Two more goals from 10-goaler Facundo Pieres were finally countered by a goal from Pony Express’s brilliant 9-goaler, Pelon Stirling.  The first chukker ended with Audi on top, 3-1.


 


Nick Roldan and sterling each scored a goal in the second chukker to knot it up at 3-3, but a penalty conversion by Facundo Pieres left Audi ahead 4-3 when the chukker ended.


 


Audi took full control of the game in the third period.  Consecutive goals from Ganzi, Gonzalo Pieres and Nicolas Pieres were complimented by shutout defense for the entire Audi team as Pony Express left the field at halftime trailing 7-3.


 


The break-neck speed of the game continued into the second half with both defenses making brilliant saves as each team was held to a single goal.  Audi continued to lead, 8-4.


 


Roldan opened the fifth chukker with a goal followed by two goals from Facundo Pieres.  Pony Express team captain, Bob Daniels, scored the final goal of the chukker as Audi held on to a 10-6 advantage.


 


Pony Express hadn’t been able to score more than two goals per chukker, and the prospects of staging a game-winning rally seemed remote, but polo is polo, and the game isn’t over until the final horn.


 


Stirling opened the final chukker with a goal before Nicolas Pieres got Audi on the scoreboard again.  Goals from Roldan and Stirling ended the chukker and the game with an Audi win, 11-9.


 


US Open action will continue on Sunday with a noon meeting between White Birch (2-0) and Las Monjitas (1-1) followed by a stadium match-up featuring Lechuza Caracas (1-1) and Black Watch (0-2).