Piaget to meet Pony Express-Santa Clara in USPA Eastern Challenge Cup finals: US Polo Update
Piaget emerged victorious over Elangeni Ranch and Audi-Newport in the three-match round-robin contest to set a spot in the finals of the United States Polo Association (USPA) Eastern Challenge Cup that took place at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.
Piaget versus Elangeni Ranch
In the first leg of the round-robin, Piaget took Elangeni Ranch by a single goal, 4-3 and established their dominance onto the field. Elangeni Ranch obtained a handicap goal while J. J. Celis and Joey Casey scored off one penalty shot apiece to increase
the tally. From the other side, Melissa Ganzi, the skipper of the Piaget Team scored the solitary goal in the period.
In the second set of play, the strikers from Piaget cranked up their offence and ruined the defence line of Elangeni Ranch. Ganzi scored another goal while his team-mates, Nic Roldan and Natascha Baecher, converted one penalty shot apiece to take the game
into their favour.
In the third and final set of play, both teams displayed stiff defence and failed to make an addition onto the scoreboard. After the regular time, Piaget won the first game at 4-3.
Audi-Newport versus Piaget
In the second game, Piaget edged past Audi-Newport by same single goal, 4-3 and confirmed a berth in the finals of the Eastern Cup. Nic Roldan and Natascha Baecher converted one penalty shot each at the start of the contest to put Piaget ahead onto the scoreboard.
However, Gene Goldstein scored a goal from the field to show their presence onto the field.
Goldstein and Roldan exchanged one goal in the second round and moved into the third with Piaget holding the lead, 4-2.
In the third set of play, Lucas Lalor scored a goal from the field for Audi-Newport but to no avail. With the final whistle, the Piaget foursome won the second consecutive game and as well the berth for the finals.
Audi-Newport versus Elangeni Ranch
The final leg of the three-match round robin between Audi-Newport and Elangeni Ranch was concluded with a three-all draw. Joey Casey and Gene Goldstein swapped one goal in the first chukka while Marc Ganzi and J. J. Celis exchanged a solitary goal in the
second period.
In the third set of play, Celis scored a goal to put Elangeni Ranch ahead onto the score-board. However, the lead could not last for long, as Lucas Lalor had it all even through a penalty conversion. The two teams battled hardly in the final minutes but
to no avail. The game concluded with both sides holding a three-all deadlock with them.
On Sunday, May 22, Piaget will face Pony Express-Santa Clara in the finals of the USPA Eastern Challenge Cup.
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