Pony Express, Las Monjitas Clinch Quarterfinal Berths in Stanford U.S. Open Action Sunday at International Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL (April 9, 2006) – The playoff picture got a little bit clearer in the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open Championship Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Eight-goaler Pancho Bensadon scored on a tap-in 1:13 into overtime to lift Pony Express over two-time champion Isla Carroll 9-8 Sunday on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, and Las Monjitas, led by Nacho Novillo Astrada’s seven goals, edged Lechuza Caracas 11-10 on Field 2.

With the wins, Pony Express and Las Monjitas qualified for the quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open Championship with a 3-0 record and one game remaining. Bendabout, which did not play Sunday, is also 3-0 and has advanced to the quarterfinals.

In other Stanford U.S. Open action, ERG rallied from a 7-3 deficit and defeated Black Watch 14-10 and 8-goaler Julio Arellano scored six goals to lead 2005 finalist Skeeterville over BTA 11-9.

The losses eliminated Black Watch and Lechuza Caracas, each winless in three games, while Skeeterville, Isla Carroll, BTA and ERG are still mathematically alive.

Pony Express trailed 7-3 after the fourth chukker.

“We started asleep and they took a 4-1 lead,” said 9-goaler Bautista Heguy of Pony Express. “The key was we woke up and we started to mark the man tougher and hitting the ball.”

Pony Express’ fortunes turned 18 second into the sixth chukker as it tied the game at 7-7 when Isla Carroll’s Pepe Heguy clearing shot caromed off a horse and went through the goal posts.

Bensadon then scored on a breakaway with 6:04 left in the game to give Pony Express an 8-7 advantage, its first lead in the game. Isla Carroll responded on Eduardo Heguy’s 30-yard penalty shot which tied the game at 8-8 with 2:10 remaining. Neither team had a decent scoring opportunity in the final two minutes.

Bautista Heguy added two goals and Piki Alberdi scored one goal for Pony Express (3-0) while patron Bob Daniels did not score.

Eduardo Heguy and Sugar Erskine led Isla Carroll (1-2) with three goals each while Pepe Heguy and patron John Goodman scored one goal apiece. Isla Carroll must beat undefeated Bendabout on Wednesday at 11 a.m. to have any chance to qualify for the playoffs.

Eight-goaler Owen Rinehart scored two goals in the final two minutes to keep Skeeterville’s playoff hopes alive.

BTA rallied from a 9-5 deficit with four consecutive goals, three by Tommy Biddle and one from Mike Azzaro that forged a tie with 3:07 left in the game. Rinehart’s tap-in with 2:11 proved to be the game-winner, as he picked up a loose ball after patron Skeeter Johnston was hooked after a nice run. Rinehart added a penalty shot with five seconds remaining to round out the scoring.

“It’s going to be tough for us to be in the top eight,” said Arellano. “We didn’t do it on our own. If we are in it, we’ll be ready.”

Johnston knows his team is a longshot to qualify for the playoffs.

“There are so many combinations that could occur, it boggles the mind,” said Johnston.

Azzaro missed three penalty shots in the second half, including a 30-yarder with early in the fourth chukker.

Rinehart finished with three goals for Skeeterville (2-2) while Johnston and Ignacio Toccalino scored one goal apiece.

Azzaro finished with a team-high five goals for BTA (1-2) while Biddle added three goals Jeff Blake scored one goal. Patron Kelly Beal did not score.

Eight-goaler Sapo Caset led Lechuza Caracas (0-3) with six goals, including five in the first half. Sebastian Merlos added two goals while patron Victor Vargas and Magoo Laprida scored one goal apiece.

Nine-goaler Eduardo Novillo Astrada added three goals and Adam Snow had one goal for Las Monjitas (3-0) while patron Camilo Bautista did not score.

Black Watch led 7-3 at halftime before ERG, with 8-goaler Marcos DiPaola replacing the injured Matias Magrini, scored eight of the game’s final nine goals to post the victory.

Ten-goaler Agustin Merlos led ERG (1-2) with six goals while DiPaola added five goals and Pablo Spinacci scored three goals. Patron Scott Wood did not score.
Magrini suffered a fractured femur last week and the game was delayed one day to accommodate DiPaolo, who was traveling from Argentina to play.

Nine-goaler Facundo Pieres scored eight goals to lead Black Watch (0-3) while Gonzalito Pieres added two goals. Nacho Figueras and patron Neil Hirsch did not score.

The Stanford U.S. Open continues Wednesday with three games, beginning at 11 a.m. when two-time champion Isla Carroll (1-2) plays Bendabout (3-0), followed by San Saba (0-3) against Black Watch (0-3) at 1 p.m. and ending with Orchard Hill (2-1) against ERG (1-2) at 3 p.m.

The quarterfinals of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier are scheduled for Sunday, April 16 with the semifinals set for Wednesday, April 19. The final, on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, expects to draw more than 8,000 spectators. 

Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only four tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the Hall of Fame Cup and the C.V. Whitney Cup, both also played at International Polo Club Palm Beach in 2006, and the USPA Gold Cup, being played in Aiken, South Carolina later this year.

The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortland Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ?-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.

The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults and reserved lawn tickets are $40. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
 
Stanford U.S. Open Schedule
                                   
Wednesday, April 12          11 a.m.                 Isla Carroll vs. Bendabout
                                          1 p.m.                   San Saba vs. Black Watch
                                          3 p.m.                   ERG vs. Orchard Hill    
Thursday, April 13              11 a.m.                 BTA vs. Lechuza Caracas
                                          1 p.m.                   White Birch vs. Pony Express
                                                      3 p.m.                  Mokarow Farms vs. Las Monjitas
 
 
Stanford U.S. Open
Standings (through April 9)
 
 
Team                                        W-L     Net Goals         Goals Scored
 
1. Las Monjitas                        3-0       +11                  38
2. Bendabout                            3-0       +5                    27
3. Pony Express                       3-0       +4                    33
4. Orchard Hill             2-1       +2                    35
5. White Birch                          2-1       +2                    30
6. Mokarow Farms                  2-1       +1                    33
7. Skeeterville                           2-2       -1                     41
8. ERG                         1-2       -1                     34
9. Isla Carroll                           1-2       -1                     30
10. BTA                                   1-2       -5                     31
11. San Saba                            0-3       -4                     25
12. Lechuza Caracas                0-3       -6                     29
13. Black Watch                      0-3       -7                     28

International Polo Club
Palm Beach