POLO: SEMIFINAL ACTION AT THE U.S. OPEN

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. Polo was already centuries old when Alexander the Great’s men played it! FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE  

FIRST SEMIFINAL: LAS MONJITAS VS TONKAWA FARMS. This Match pitted Las Monjitas – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Black Habits – against Tonkawa Farms – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Cavalry.

The two teams went blow for blow and Goal for Goal in the First Chukker, which ended in a 2-2 tie. In the Second Chukker the Black Habits outscored the Cavalry 3 Goals to 2, grabbing a 5-4 edge.

The Third Chukker was just as tight, but more defense-heavy. Tonkawa Farms knocked in a pair of Goals to the 1 mustered by their opponents. Going into Halftime the score stood at 6-6.

Chukker Number Four saw the defenses dominating again as the teams were limited to a mere Goal apiece for a 7-7 tally. The offenses got rolling again in the Fifth Chukker, with the Cavalry winning it 3-2 to go on top 10 Goals to 9.

In the wildest Sixth Chukker of the entire Tournament, the ball flew between the Uprights with giddy abandon. Las Monjitas thwacked in no less than FIVE Goals to the 3 scored by Tonkawa Farms. The Black Habits won by a final count of 14-12.

Hillario Ulloa and Fran Elizalde each had 6 Goals to lead Las Monjitas. 

SECOND SEMIFINAL: PILOT VS ICONICA. In this Match Pilot – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Troubleshooters – played Iconica – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Creators.

I often praise Polo for the way women and men can play on the same teams. In this Match Maureen Brennan rode into action as part of Iconica’s foursome.

The Troubleshooters dominated on both sides of the ball in the opening Chukker, shutting out the Creators while swatting in an unbelievable SEVEN Goals of their own.

In the Second Chukker Iconica showed signs of hope for their fans, outscoring their opponents 3-1 for a new tally of 8-3. Those signs of hope were virtually extinguished in the Third Chukker as Pilot produced another shutout while adding a Goal. At Halftime the Troubleshooters were on top 9-3. 

Through excellent ball control Pilot prevented any runs by the Creators and ended the Fourth Chukker with a 10-4 advantage.

Iconica pulled to within 11-6 with a 2-1 Fifth Chukker but got shut out again in the Sixth as the Troubleshooters won the Match 13-6.

Facundo Pieres led the scoring for Pilot with 5 Goals.