Tonkawa Prevails 13-12 over Postage Stamp Farm

After an upsetting semifinal defeat in the Joe Barry Memorial, Tonkawa arrived at the field determined for victory. Despite a sizeable loss to Postage Stamp Farm earlier in Ylvisaker Cup bracket play, Tonkawa took on an almost entirely new Postage Stamp Farm team due to injury substitutions. Mariano Aguerre, the only original Postage Stamp Farm member, along with three young guns (Timmy Dutta, Jota Chavanne, Juan Martin Zubia) hassled the Tonkawa team in a thrilling and evenly matched back-and-forth six chukkers of play. Tonkawa came out strong right out of the gate with three consecutive goals. “Yeah it was really hard because they had two substitutes,” said Sapo Caset, “we didn’t know exactly how they were going to line up. They were playing really well before with Kris and Annabelle, but I think we jumped into the game quick and had a good first chukker.” Postage Stamp Farm answered with three of their own to tie the score at the beginning of the second chukker. The teams would remain neck and neck during first half play, however penalty conversions from Sapo Caset would give Tonkawa the edge and lead 7-6 at the end of the third.

The tables would turn in the fourth and fifth chukkers as Zubia (substituting for Kris Kampsen) hammered in the penalty conversions for Postage Stamp Farm to tie the score 10-all. Aguerre finished off the chukker with another goal and Postage Stamp Farm captured the lead for the first time 11-10 moving into the sixth chukker. Fouling ultimately led to the Postage Stamp Farm defeat as Sapo Caset coolly and competently converted two penalties to take back the lead 12-11. Aguerre tied the score once again, but a Postage Stamp Farm foul and yellow card with two minutes remaining in regulation time resulted in an open goal penalty for Tonkawa. Sapo Caset put his eighth penalty shot through the uprights to gain a one goal advantage 13-12. Postage Stamp Farm missed a prime goal opportunity from the field in the last minute of play and Tonkawa narrowly grasped the victory 13-12.

 

“Today we are going to celebrate and tomorrow we will work on our strategy.  

The game is all about horses. We will practice and maybe give them a slow chukker, and a day off, but they are ready to go to the final.” -Sapo Caset.

 

The Ylvisaker Cup Final will be played Sunday, February 19 at 3:00pm ET at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. The USPA Polo Network will livestream the Ylvisaker Cup Final on uspolo.org.