WELLINGTON
La Indiana, winners of last weekend’s Joe Barry Memorial Cup, was among the upset victims during the first two days of the Ylvisaker Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Postage Stamp Farm, making its IPC 20-goal debut this season, knocked off La Indiana, 12-11, in Friday’s opening game. Kris Kampsen scored a game-high eight goals, including the game-winner on a 60-yard penalty shot.
After the game, La Indiana’s former 10-goaler Mike Azzaro, MVP of the last two Sunday feature games, had to have 20 stitches to close a deep gash on his chin. Azzaro was hit with a ball that bounced off his mallet head.
Five other games were held Friday and Saturday. The Sunday feature game between Tonkawa and Travieso, another team making its IPC debut, was rescheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. because of inclement weather and wet Engel & Volkers Field.
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In another upset last week, Valiente II, a team put together at the last minute, defeated Grand Champions-Casablanca, 15-8.
Valiente II shut out Grand Champions-Casablanca in the fourth and fifth chukkers and had a 10-1 second-half run, including six unanswered goals.
“It’s tough when you don’t score a goal for two chukkers,” said Grant Ganzi, 18, a freshman at Lynn University and youngest member of the Grand Champions-Casablanca team. “They scored six goals in a row; you can’t win a game like that. It’s disgraceful.”
Valiente II’s Diego Cavanah left the game with a neck injury and was replaced in the final nine minutes by 8-goaler Magoo Laprida, who played against his younger brother, Inaki Laprida.
“We put the team together two weeks ago,” padron Rob Jornayvaz said. “We weren’t planning to play. It was mostly for Diego and Matias Zavaleta to get ready for the 26-goal season. I was lucky enough to jump on the team and Joaquin Panelo was free and joined us.”
Coca-Cola, riding a three-game losing streak, defeated season-opener Herbie Pennell Cup winner Villa del Lago/Modere, 14-8. The game pitted brothers and Cardinal Newman alums Julio and Carlucho Arellano. Julio Arellano led Coca-Cola with nine goals.
In other games:
Orchard Hill 9, Goose Creek 8 (OT): Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres scored six goals, including the game-winner. Pieres won the throw-in and raced down field to score on an incredible neck shot to end the game.
Valiente 10, Mt. Brilliant 5: Argentine 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, the world’s top-ranked player, made his season debut. Valiente led 6-1 at the half and 9-2 after the fourth chukker. Cambiaso had six goals.
Horseware/Tackeria 17, Equine Liquid Biocell 7: The tournament’s youngest lineup was led by Juan Martin Obregon with eight goals, including 6 of 6 from the penalty line.
Fourteen teams are competing in the Ylvisaker Cup in four brackets over three weeks. The top eight teams advance into the March 12 quarterfinals.
The tournament is named for Bill Ylvisaker, a former captain of the Yale polo team and founder of the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. The Hall of Famer and former 7-goal player created the Polo Training Foundation to teach and develop young polo players.