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Isla Carroll Beats Black Watch 11-10 in Overtime; Orchard Hill Snaps Losing Streak with 11-9 Win over San Saba in Stanford U.S. Open Friday at IPC
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WELLINGTON, FL (March 31, 2006) – Eight-goaler Sugar Erskine scored on a tap-in with 3:30 left in overtime to lift two-time champion Isla Carroll over Black Watch 11-10 in an opening-round game of the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open Championship Friday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In other Stanford U.S. Open action, 9-goaler Paco de Narvaez scored six goals to lead Orchard Hill over San Saba 11-9, snapping a 14-game U.S. Open losing streak that spanned four years. This was Orchard Hill’s first victory in a U.S. Open game since 2002 when it lost in the final. “I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time,” said Erskine, who finished with a game-high eight goals. “All I had to do was walk it in.” A 60-yard penalty shot by Eduardo Heguy gave Isla Carroll a 10-8 lead with 4:39 left in the game. Nine-goaler Facundo Pieres of Black Watch scored two penalty shots in a 60-second span, the second a 30-yarder with 39 seconds left, to send the game into overtime. In overtime, both teams had chances to win. Both Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres missed breakaway opportunities as they were harassed by defenders. Isla Carroll’s Heguy missed a 60-yard penalty shot when it was knocked down by Nacho Figueras with 4:06 left. On the ensuring knock-in, Isla Carroll’s Pepe Heguy picked up a loose ball near the 30-yard line and hit a belly shot to a wide open Erskine, who raced in for the winning goal. “Winning the first game is very important because you can’t start on your back foot,” said Erskine. “We doubled our horses. We’re psyched that it went our way. No teams are easy.” Isla Carroll built a 9-5 lead early in the fifth chukker on a breakaway by Erskine before Black Watch rallied with three consecutive goals to cut the margin to 9-8 with 4:51 left in the game. Eduardo Heguy finished with three goals for Isla Carroll (1-0) while Pepe Heguy and patron John Goodman did not score. Facundo Pieres led Black Watch (0-1) with seven goals while Gonzalito Pieres added two goals and Nacho Figueras scored one goal. Patron Neil Hirsch did not score. San Saba led 7-4 at halftime but Orchard Hill rallied to tie the game at 8-8 at the end of the fourth chukker. Orchard Hill scored two goals in a 34-second span, one each by Hector Galindo and de Narvaez, to snap an 8-8 tie. Toto Collardin scored with 2:41 left in the fifth chukker to cut the margin to 10-9 but de Narvaez converted a 60-yard penalty shot with 5:32 remaining in the sixth chukker to increase the margin to 11-9. Ten-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada of San Saba missed a 30-yard penalty shot with 3:40 left in the game and neither team could score the rest of the game. Hector Galindo finished with three goals and Jeff Hall scored two goals for Orchard Hill (1-0) while patron Steve Van Andel did not score. “Every year is new,” said Van Andel. “Those guys (his three teammates) turned it on in the second half. We just needed to get the first one. It’s nice to win in the Open again.” Astrada led San Saba (0-1) with five goals while Silvestre Donovan and Toto Collardin added two goals apiece. Patron Tommy Lee Jones did not score. The Stanford U.S. Open continues today (Saturday) with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. when defending champion White Birch plays 2005 semifinalist Bendabout followed by ERG against Pony Express at 1 p.m. The Stanford U.S. Open quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday, April 16 with the semifinals set for Wednesday, April 19. The Stanford U.S. Open is the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season and covers the first four Sundays in April. 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.
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International Polo Club
Palm Beach Contact Info: For ticket information, call (561) 204-5687 Club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com. For information about the upcoming 2005 high-goal season, including the Stanford Financial Group U.S. Open, call the club at (561) 204-5687 International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road, in Wellington. |
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