Las Monjitas to Face Crab Orchard in US Open final

April 16, 2008 - IPC web news
WELLINGTON, FL - Defending champion Crab Orchard and Las Monjitas will face each other in the season finale Stanford US Open Polo Championship Sunday after posting victories in the semifinals at International Polo Club Palm Beach today.


Both games had identical 12-11 scores as Crab Orchard fought off a stubborn Pony Express and Las Monjitas squeaked by White Birch.


“We're here to win it,” said Crab Orchard captain George Rawlings whose team was up by as many as four goals and maintained a two goal difference until the final moments of the game. “They are a tough team and Matias and David were out for us since they made up half our team last year,” Rawlings added. Crab Orchard's 2007 Championship team had Matias Magrini and David Stirling playing with them. This year the two joined Pony Express and were replaced by Nachi Heguy and Jeff Blake.


Magrini and Stirling combined for nine of the teams 11. In the final chukker Crab Orchard's Adolfo Cambiaso, who finished the day with six, put his team up 12-9 on a field length run and goal early. Magrini and Stirling each answered with a goal only to fall one short of victory. Rawlings concluded, “Now the big one.”


Las Monjitas struck early and were up 5-2 in the second chukker when Eduardo Astrada was injured reaching for a shot. Astrada was able to return and scored three times in the second half.
“We are very conscientious of the second half and especially the 4th chukker after coming from a long break. We kept our concentration today”, said Camilo Bautista of Las Monjitas. In the fourth, the orange team completely dominated White Birch by holding them scoreless and only allowing them across midfield once in the chukker. Las Monjitas scored one and missed four shots inside the 20 yard line. Lucas Monteverde of White Birch finished the day with seven goals all on penalty shots. Nacho Astrada had eight for Las Monjitas.


Bautista added, “It's fantastic, this is going to be our third final this year.” Las Monjitas was runner-up in the CV Whitney, won the USPA Piaget Gold Cup and is now in the finals of the Stanford US Open Polo Championship.


The final between Las Monjitas and Crab Orchard, both North American Polo League Teams, will be played at 3:00 PM Sunday, April 20 on the Stanford Field at International Polo Club Palm Beach.