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Valiente wins first Open match, Audi remains unbeaten

Easter was in the air at the International Polo Club Sunday afternoon with an Easter Egg Hunt, a handful of professional sports team mascots from the Florida Marlins, the Miami Heat, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Rays. At halftime there was an Easter Hat contest, and plenty of excitement on and around the Piaget Field with an estimated crowd of over 5,000 reported.

Bob Jornayvaz’s Valiente team victory was the highlight of a busy day of polo competition in the 2010 Arcalux US Open Championship, scoring an opening round 8-6 win over the veteran Lechuza Caracas (0-1) team. In its first 26-goal season.

Valiente made it to the finals of the C. V. Whitney Cup before stumbling through a disappointing Piaget Gold Cup appearance. But it looked like the magic was back Sunday afternoon. Led by five goals from 9-goaler Nacho Astrada, Valiente (1-0) fought back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a humble 3-2 halftime lead in a game in which they never trailed again.

Nacho Astrada led the Valiente charge with a game high five goals as the lead stretched to two goals, 5-3, after four. Lechuza fought back gamely buy found itself short of offense as the fifth chukker ended with Valiente up, 7-4.

Nacho Astrada’s fifth goal of the match had Valiente on top 8-4 before goals from Lechuza team captain Victor Vargas and Sapo Caset salvaged some pride in the 8-6 Valiente victory. Magoo Laprida was named MVP while Bob Jornayvaz’s Ponchito received Best Playing Pony honors.

AUDI 11, PIAGET 10

Piaget rode out to and early 6-5 halftime score before falling to the unbeaten Audi team 11-10 in a game that was much closer than one might have anticipated.

Three goals by Piaget 10-goaler Lolo Castagnola had his team ahead 6-5 after three chukkers and up 9-7 after scoring a hat trick (three goals) in the fourth. A goal from Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi had Audi trailing by three goals as the fifth chukker started, but that was when Audi got cranked up.

A pair of goals from Gonzalito Pieres in the fifth and two goals from brother Facundo Pieres in the sixth was combined with stalwart defense as Audi (3-0); the 2009 defending US Open Champion rode to its third consecutive win against no defeats. Piaget (0-2) suffered its second consecutive setback against no wins.

LOS MONJITAS 12, BENDABOUT/WANDERERS 4

In a game in which both teams showed a bit of rust after a lengthy layoff, Las Monjitas (1-0) scored a decisive 12-4 win over an impotent Bendabout (0-1) offense that trailed throughout the game. Two first chukker goals from Negro Astrada and another from brother Eduardo Astrada were countered by a single goal from Bendabout’s Mike Azzaro, but the die was cast.

Las Monjitas went up 5-2 after the second frame, and led 7-2 at the end of the first half. Goals from Javier Astrada and brother Negro Astrada in the fourth were complimented by shutout defense as Las Monjitas built up an impressive 9-2 lead.

Bendabout struggled to get back into the game, but despite a couple of late goals, Las Monjitas scored an overwhelming 12-4 win.

CRAB ORCHARD 11, PONY EXPRESS 3

In the morning contest, Crab Orchard (1-1) took early control of the game and coasted behind six goals from Adolfo Cambiaso in shutting down Pony Express (0-3) in an 11-3 rout.

In a slow-starting game, Crab Orchard took a 5-0 lead after the opening two chukkers of play before Pony Express answered back. Carlos Gracida’s goal in the third chukker finally got Pony Express on the scoreboard, but the first half ended with Crab Orchard commanding a 6-2 halftime advantage.

The second half was no better for the beleaguered Pony Express lineup as Crab Orchard outscored them five goals to one for the 11-3 win. Adolfo Cambiaso led all scoring with six goals. Teammate Julio Arellano scored three times and Hilario Ulloa notched two goals in the win.

US Open play continues on Wednesday, April 7 with a pair of games. At 10 am unbeatens Audi (3-0) and Orchard Hill (2-0) will face-off, followed by a 3 pm contest between Piaget (0-2) and Crab Orchard (1-1).