Yesterday the 111th U.S. Open in polo continued at the International Polo Club in Palm Beach. All of Saturday and Sunday’s games were decided by just one goal and that competitive intensity continued with yesterday’s play.
ROUND TWO – LAS MONJITAS vs VALIENTE – My readers indicate that it makes it easier for them to follow if they can think of teams in terms of nicknames so in addition to their official names I will also throw in Balladeer’s Blog’s unofficial nicknames for each team. Anything to accomodate my faithful readers!
Las Monjitas restaurant chain can be referred to as “the Little Nuns” since that’s what Las Monjitas means. Valiente’s unofficial nickname here is “the Valiants.”
The 1st Chukker ended with Valiente on top by a score of 3-2 with 2 goals by Alejo Taranca and 1 from Guillermo Terrera. For Las Monjitas Facundo Sola scored both goals on penalty shots from 40 yards out and 60 yards out.
Valiente found themselves in foul trouble in the 2nd Chukker and couldn’t get out of their own way to score. Las Monjitas capitalized as Facundo Sola put two more penalty shots between the uprights, both from 30 yards out. Las Monjitas took a 4-3 lead.
Chukker number 3 was chock full of offensive fireworks. The great Sola scored two back-to-back goals for Las Monjitas (6-3) followed by Valiente answering with a 30 yard penalty goal and a goal from the field, both by Sapo Caset. (6-5) Alejo Taranco then nailed another goal from the field for the Little Nuns, tying up the score at 6-6 as Halftime arrived.
In the 4th Chukker the two teams went back and forth some more with 2 goals apiece. First Caset converted a penalty shot from 60 yards out (7-6) then Taranco scored from the field yet again for an 8-6 lead for the Valiants. Las Monjitas responded with 2 more penalty goals by Sola from 30 and 40 yards away (8-8).
Sola continued his solo act (see what I did there) by scoring the first 2 goals in the 5th Chukker to give Las Monjitas a 10-8 advantage. Valiente made it a 10-9 game with a goal from Guillermo Terrera before Sebastian Merlos added to the Little Nuns’ lead with a goal of his own and an 11-9 score.
In the opening minute of the 6th Chukker Eduardo Novillo Astrada put Las Monjitas up 12-9. Tommy Beresford (in for the injured Bob Jornayvaz) pulled Valiente 1 goal closer at 12-10, then Terrera made it a 12-11 game and Caset completed the comeback by tying things up at 12-12 and forcing a Golden Goal situation as Regulation ended.
That Sudden Death situation was resolved two minutes into the Overtime Chukker as Caset knocked in a goal for a 13-12 win for Valiente.
The U.S. Open for 2015 resumes on Saturday with two games on the schedule.
FOR BALLADEER’S BLOG’S QUICK PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2015/03/23/polo-is-joining-balladeers-blogs-sports-coverage/
* BRING BACK POLO AS AN OLYMPIC EVENT! *
Balladeer's Blog 
Awesome sounding sport!
Thanks!
Polo seems awesome! Thanks!
No problem at all, thank you.
Polo players are so sexy!
Thanks for commenting!
I truly love your descriptions. I could never sit through an entire polo match but your descriptions capture the back and 4orth.
Thanks! I appreciate it!
The Little Nuns team made me laugh.
I understand completely about that.
Polo, dude?
Yep, polo.
Polo seems pretty awesome!
I think it is, too.
I enjoy, result in I found just what I was having a look for.
You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day.
Bye
Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using?
I use WP.
The information is rather interesting.