Adolfo Cambiaso Scores 14 Goals to Lead New Bridge La Dolfina Over Airstream 18-15 in Joe Barry Memorial Cup Action at International Polo Club

  
WELLINGTON, FL (January 22, 2006) – Superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, generally regarded as the world’s best polo player, lived up to his billing as he scored 14 goals to lead New Bridge La Dolfina over Airstream 18-15 in a key 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup game Sunday on Stanford Field at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

With the victory, New Bridge La Dolfina (2-0) qualified for Thursday’s semifinals as the top seed. Airstream (1-1) was eliminated.

Photo: Adolfo Cambiaso. Photographer: David Lominska.

In other games, 7-goaler Nicolas Roldan scored seven goals to lead Pony Express past Techno Marine 14-10 to capture first place in Division I and Audi edged Lechuza Caracas 6-5. Pony Express, Lechuza Caracas and Catamount, which finished second in Division II behind Lechuza Caracas, also qualified for the semifinals.

Cambiaso, in 1993 at the age of 17, became the youngest 10-goaler in the history of the sport. The five-time U.S. Open champion turns 31 on April 14 and scored 15 goals in the 2005 Argentine Open final in December, including the game-winner in overtime.

“It was just lucky,” said Cambiaso of his goal-scoring prowess against Airstream. “Both teams played open polo and both teams didn’t miss much. I scored five or six goals running out from the throw-in.”

Ten-goaler Carlos Gracida of Airstream, who scored a team-high 10 goals, said the throw-ins were the difference.

“We lost the game on the throw-ins,” Gracida said. “Their plan worked. Sunny (Hale of New Bridge La Dolfina) took me out. And (New Bridge La Dolfina’s Matias) Magrini took Memo (Gracida of Airstream). That left Cambiaso all alone. That was the game. It would’ve been closer. I’m not saying we would have won. I’m not taking anything away from them.”

 Cambiaso scored eight goals in the first half as New Bridge La Dolfina held a 10-7 lead. Airstream cut the margin to one goal twice, the last at 12-11 with 2:38 left in the fourth chukker on a goal from Carlos Gracida. Cambiaso answered with a two-yard penalty shot 47 seconds later. Airstream could not get closer than two goals in the last two chukkers.  

Magrini added three goals for New Bridge La Dolfina while Hale scored one and patron Russ McCall did not score.

Memo Gracida, who was inducted in the Polo Hall of Fame in 1997 and is the only active high-goal Hall of Famer competing in 2006, added three goals for Airstream. Weston Gracida scored two goals while patron Peter Orthwein did not score.

Cambiaso received the MVP award his pony, Calida, which he played in the fifth chukker, was honored with the Best Playing Pony award.

Prior to the game, players who participate in the local Junior Polo program competed in an exhibition match to bring attention to the Polo Training Foundation, which is holding a fundraiser Friday night at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Pony Express scored the final five goals, including three penalty shots by Roldan, en route to earning a spot in the semifinals. Gonzalo Von Wernich added three goals while Tomas Goti and patron Marc Daniels scored two goals each.
Nine-goaler Adam Snow led Techno Marine (1-1) with five goals while Luis Escobar and Magoo Laprida added two goals each and patron Franck Dubarry had one goal.

Six-goaler Kris Kampsen led Audi (1-1) with three goals while Hector Galindo scored two goals and Juan Bollini had one goal. Five-goaler Tomas del Rio led Lechuza Caracas (1-1) with four goals and 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos scored one goal.

MORE Photos by David Lominska

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