Valiente cruises into US Open semifinals

In an uninspired effort, Valiente kept its undefeated record intact by scoring an 8-5 win over Bendabout/Wanderers in the 2010 Arcalux US Open tournament Sunday afternoon.

Bendabout entered the contest with an 0-2 record and averaging just five goals a game while the undefeated Valiente team (2-0) was averaging over 10 goals a game in its first two games.

With several hundred spectators in attendance for the “early” game of the day, the teams struggled to produce anything that resembled a high-power offense. After two chukkers of play, Valiente led by an embarrassing 3-0 score, on the strength of two goals from Nacho Astrada.

Threatening clouds finally gave way to the rain, and the teams played on as the rain came down.

Valiente team captain Bob Jornayvaz scored the first goal of the third period to put his team on top, 3-1, before Bendabout ever got on the scoreboard.

A goal from the field from Bendabout’s Jeff Hall in the third chukker spoiled the Valiente shutout, but goals from Magoo Laprida and Nacho Astrada ended the first half with Valiente holding on to a commanding 5-1 lead.

Although Bendabout hadn’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard in earlier matches (averaging five goals a game) a lot more had been expected considering the caliber of players on the roster.

Laprida’s second goal of the game had Valiente up, 6-1, as the pace slowed down again. Bendabout’s Sugar Erskine broke through the Valiente defense late in the chukker, to notch their second goal of the game.

Hall powered another ball through the goal posts to open the fifth chukker before Miguel Astrada scored for Valiente. The chukker ended with Valiente maintaining a 7-3 advantage.

A renewed Bendabout (0-3) team took the field in the final chukker and quickly got goals from Hall and Erskine, cutting the lead to two goals, 7-5 before Laprida’s third goal of the game put Valiente (3-0) up by three goals, 8-5 to end the game.

LAS MONJITAS vs. LECHUZA CARACAS RAINED OUT

Continuing afternoon rains dampened the spirits of thousands of spectators who arrived at the International Polo Club to find out who would be facing Audi in the final semifinal berth of the 2010 US Open.

With identical 1-1 records, Las Monjitas and Lechuza Caracas were scheduled to compete Sunday afternoon for the last available semifinal position in the Open, but to no avail. Heavy rains forced the postponement of the match until Monday, April 12 at noon at the club.

The semifinals that were originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday, April 14 have been moved back to Thursday, April 15.

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TAGS: 2010 IPC, Bendabout/Wanderers, Bob Jornayvaz, International Polo Club, Jeff Hall, Magoo Laprida, Miguel Astrada, Mike Azzaro. Gillian Johnston, Nacho Astrada, Palm Beach, Polo, Polo Tournament, South Florida, Sugar Erskine, United States Polo, US Open Polo Championship, Wellington, Wellington Florida