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Evergreen cruises to a 2-0 record in USPA Circuit Players Cup

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Crlitos Galido continues to lead the competition in scoring, adding eight goals to his growing total in Evergreen’s 12-6 win over C & R Farms in USPA Circuit Players Cup play at the Empire Polo Club Sunday afternoon.

Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Bayne Bossom, Juan Jo Gonzales and Carlitos Galindo) have had a successful 4-goal season at the Empire Polo Club, recording wins in both the Stagecoach Challenge and the USPS Sportsmanship Cup, and appear poised to add the 2018 USPA Circuit Players Cup to their trophy room.

Scoring their second win of the tournament, Evergreen remains the only undefeated team in this year’s competition.

After handily dispatching Empire (Rob Scapa, Eileen Duffy, Erik Wright and Jim Wright) on Saturday, Evergreen took the field at 9:30 Sunday morning and throttled a foul prone C & R Farms team (Cheryl Schindel, Luis Saracco, Ross Adam and Alonzo Andrade), 12-6.

Eight first chukker fouls put C & R Farms on the ropes in the opening chukker with Evergreen’s Carlitos Gracida converting on three penalty shots.  The Evergreen defense was just a s focused as they shut down the C & R attack for the 3-0 lead.

C & R got on the scoreboard in the second with a 60-yard penalty conversion from Luis Saracco to make it 3-1.  A goal from the field from Bayne Bossom was the only other score in the chukker as Evergreen rode off the field on top of a 4-1 lead.

C & R bounced back in the third with Ross Adam scoring twice from the field and teammate Alonzo Andrade adding a 40-yard penalty goal to tie the game at 4-4.  Galindo scored on a 60-yard penalty shot to end the first half with Evergreen in front by a single goal, 5-4.

Saracco’s second goal of the day leveled the score once again, 5-5, but Galindo and Evergreen were just getting started.  Galindo scored two of his three goals on penalty conversions with Bossom adding a goal from the field.  After four periods of play, Evergreen held a four-goal advantage, 9-5.

Defense was the key to fifth chuker play with Evergreen holding C & R scoreless.  Evergreen only managed a goal of their own, but increased their led to five goals, 10-5, with one period remaining in regulation play.

Saracco opened the sixth with a goal from the field, but the C & R rally was short-lived.  Goals from Bossom and Galindo ended the game with Evergreen riding away with the 12-6 win.

Galindo scored six of his game-high eight goals on penalty shots.  Bossom added four gals for the Evergreen victory.  Saracco’s three goals led the C & R attack.  Adam scored twice, and Andrade added a goal in a losing effort.

The win was Evergreen’s second of the tournament and left them atop the standings at 2-0.  The C & R loss was their first, falling to 1-1.

Hanalei Bay 16, Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine 5

In a noon USPA Players Cup match, Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi, Ian Schnoebelen, Taylor Freeman and Ashton Wolf) embarrassed Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine (Tanweer Khan, Victor Lopez, Cameron Smith and Warwick Prendiville) with a healthy dose of offense and defense that carried them to a resounding 16-5 victory.

The 3-goal Hanalei Bay team received one goal by handicap and quickly added to it with every member of the team getting on the scoreboard in the first chukker.  Taylor Freeman and Krista Bonaguidi scored the first two goals of the game, 3-0, with Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine answering with a single goal from Warwick Prendiville, 3-1.   Ian Schnoebelen and Ashton closed out the scoring in the opening chukker with single goals as Hanalei Bay raced out to an early 5-1 lead.

Wolf scored his second goal of the day in second chukker action followed by a pair of goals from Freeman.  Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine was unable to score and fell behind by seven goals, 8-1.

Wolf and Bonaguidi each added a goal in the third with Schnoebelen converting a 40-yard penalty shot for a goal. Prendiville and Victor Lopez scored the final two goals of the period, but it was Hanalei Bay who was in control of the game with an eight-goal advantage, 11-3 at the end of the first half.

The Hanalei Bay attack continued to roll unabated in second half play. Bonaguidi’s third goal of the day came on a 30-yard penalty shot with Wolf and Schnoebelen adding single goals. A stellar defensive effort by Hanalei Bay blanked the Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine offense for the second time, extending their commanding lead to eleven goals, 14-3.

Two more goals from Freeman in the fifth were answered by a single 40-yard penalty conversion from Prendiville. After five periods the Hanalei Bay lead stood at 16-4.

With Hanalei Bay resting their horses in the final chukker, Prendiville scored the only sixth chukker goal in a 16-5. Hanalei Bay beat-down.

Freeman’s five goals led the field with teammate Wolf accounting for four goals and Bonaguidi and Schnoebelen adding three goals apiece. Hanalei Bay received one goal by handicap. Prendiville scored four times for Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine with Lopez adding the only other goal in the loss.

The win was the first for Hanalei Bay (1-0) while Tanakhanda/Sandalford Wine suffered their second setback in as many games, 0-2.

USPA Players Cup competition will continue next weekend with the finals set t be played on Sunday, February 11th.

Evergreen goes to 2-0 in USPA Sportsmanship Cup Competition

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The Empire polo team (L to R)-Jim Wright, Erik Wright, Rob Scapa and Eileen Duffy with representatives of the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa at the Empire Polo Club Sunday afternoon. Empire edged Granite Bay, 8-7, in a United States Polo Association Sportsmanship Cup match.

Empire (Rob Scapa, Eileen Duffy, Erik Wright and Nicolas Maciel) rebounded from a humiliating 12-3 loss in USPA Sportsmanship play on Saturday to record a hard-fought 8-7 win over Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Alvaro Tadeo, Jenny Alter and Diego Cruz) Sunday afternoon at the Empire Polo Club, bringing an end to a day loaded with polo action.

Granite Bay drew first blood, however, with Alvaro Tadeo scoring the first goal of the match for the early 1-0 lead.  Empire countered with a goal from Jim Wright to end the first chukker in a 1-1 tie.

Erik Wright’s first goal of the day gave Empire their first lead of the day, 2-1, but Granite Bay continued to press their attack.  An empire foul sent Tadeo to the penalty line where he converted from 60-yards out for the final goal of the period to make it 2-2.

Both teasms played disciplined defense with Jim Wright and Tadeo exchanging goals in the third.  At the midway point, the score remained level at 3-3.

Pressure from Empire in the fourth chukker resulted in a pair of Granite Bay fouls.  Jim Wright took advantage of the Granite Bay errors, converting from 40-yars and 60-yards respectively.  The Empire defenders held firm, shutting out the Granite Bay attack for the first time all day.  After four periods of play, Empire had taken a two-goal, 5-3 advantage.

Granite Bay erupted for three consecutive goals in the fifth with goals from Diego Cruz, Tadeo and Eric Hammon boosting them into the lead, 6-5.  Jim Wright countered with back-to-back goals for Empire, ending the period on top of Granite Bay, 7-6.

Erik Wright opened the scoring in the sixth with his second score of the day, extending the Empire lead to two goals, 8-6, but there was no quit in Granite Bay.  Tadeo scored for the fourth time, but time was on Empire’s side as they held on for the 8-7 win.

Jim Wright led all scoring with six goals (two on penalty conversions).  Erik Wright added a pair of goals for the win.  Tadeo led the Granite Bay attack with three goals from the field and a penalty goal.  Hammon and Cruz each added a goal in a losing effort.

Evergreen 8, Hanalei Bay 7

Earlier in the day, Carlitos Galindo dazzled the Sunday crowd by scoring seven times in leading Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo, Juan Jo Gonzales and Bayne Bossom) to their second tournament win in as many days as they outlasted Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi, Ashton Wolf, Taylor Freeman and Ian Schnoebelen) in a hotly-contested 8-7 win.

Although Hanalei Bay received one goal by handicap, an aggressive Evergreen defense held them scoreless from the field in the opening two chukkers.  Single goals from Galindo and Bayne Bossom had Evergreen in front, 2-1, after the first.  A pair of 40-yard penalty goals from Galindo in the second period extended the Evergreen led to three goals, 4-1.

A goal from Ashton Wolf in the third cut the Evergreen lead down to two goals in the third, but their defense was unable to shut down Galindo.  His fourth goal on the day ended the first half with Evergreen leading by three goals, 5-2.

A re-focused Hanalei Bay team took the field in the fourth chukker and appeared to be in sync.  Consecutive goals from Ian Schnoebelen, Wolf and Taylor Freeman went unanswered.  The fourth period ended with Evergreen and Hanalei Bay all even at five goals apiece.

Goals were hard to come by in the fifth with both defenses stepping it up a notch.  A single 40-yard penalty goal from Galindo accounted for all of the scoring as Evergreen edged out to a narrow 6-5 lead with once period remaining in regulation play.  Freeman and Galindo traded goals in the sixth, each scoring twice, as Evergreen escaped with the 8-7 win.

Galindo’s seven goals set the pace for the day.  Bossom added a goal for the Evergreen victory.  Freeman scored a team-high three goals for Hanalei Bay.  Wolf added a pair of goals, Schnoebelen scored once and the team received one goal by handicap in the loss.

All four teams will return next week for the completion of the 2018 USPA Sportsmanship Cup.

General Admission and tailgating are free with a $20 parking fee. VIP is $30 per person with a reservation. Call 760-393-7298 for VIP reservations. Entrance is on Ave. 50 between Madison St. and Monroe St. Visit http://www.EmpirePolo.com for more details

Saturday’s Sportsmanship Cup results: Evergreen 12, Empire 3; and Hanalei Bay 13, Granite Bay 6.

The 2017-2018 Empire Polo season attracts players from across the country and around the world and offers fourteen weekends of fast-paced polo in the beautiful and relaxed setting of California’s winter playground.

The Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio, CA.  For further information go to the club website at http://empirepolo.com or call 760-342-7755.

Evergreen takes Stagecoach Challenge behind nine goals from Carlitos Galindo

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2018 Stagecoach Challenge winners-Evergreen (L to R), Juan Jo Gonzalez, Bayne Bossom, Carlitos Galindo and Tom Sprung were undefeated in two days of competition at the Empire Polo Club.

Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo, Juan Jo Gonzales and Bayne Bossom) and Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi, Ashton Wolf, Taylor Freeman and Ian Schnoebelen) rode into Sunday’s final of the 2018 Stagecoach Challenge at the Empire Polo Club with high-scoring offenses that had averaged about 13-goals-per game (Evergreen 13; Hanalei Bay, 12.6) after three games, setting the stage for a high-scoring championship match that would feature some of the tournament’s top scorers, and they didn’t disappoint.

Carlitos Galindo rocked the Hanalei Bay defenders in first chukker action that saw him score three consecutive goals for the early 3-1 edge (Hanalei Bay received one goal by handicap).  Taylor Freeman scored Hanalei Bay’s first goal from the field to end the first with Evergreen holding on to a 3-2 advantage.

Fouls by Hanalei Bay got them into trouble early in the second period, and Evergreen made them pay.  Galindo converted a penalty shot from 60-yards while teammate Bayne scored on a 30-yarder.  Both Galindo and Bossom added goals from the field as Evergreen rocketed out to a 7-2 lead.  Ashton Wolf scored the final goal of the period, but Hanalei Bay trailed by four goals, 7-3.

Hanalei Bay, (L to R)-Krista Bonaguidi, Ian Schnoebelen, Ashton Wolf and Taylor Freeman.

Hanalei Bay scratched their way back into the game in the third, cutting the lead back to 7-5 on goals from Wolf and Freeman (a 40-yard penalty conversion), but it wasn’t to be.  Galindo added a penalty goal and a goal from the field with Juan Jo Gonzalez scoring his first goal of the day on a penalty shot to give Evergreen a commanding 10-5 halftime lead.

The Hanalei Bay defense stepped it up in the fourth, holding Evergreen scoreless for the first time all day, but were unable to capitalize on it.  A single goal from Wolf was all they could muster, offensively, and continued to trail, 10-6.

Bossom’s single goal in the fifth for Evergreen was the only score of the period as solid defensive efforts slowed down both attacking efforts.  The Evergreen led returned to five goals, 11-6, with one period left in regulation play.

Gonzalez added a goal and Galindo scored twice (one on a penalty shot) while an impotent Hanalei Bay attack was unable to mount a successful scoring effort for the second consecutive chukker.  When the final horn sounded it was Evergreen with the convincing 14-6 victory.

Carlitos Galindo led all scoring with an impressive nine goals.  He also finished the tournament as high-scorer with a total of 26 goals in four games.  Bossom added three goals and Gonzalez scored twice for the win.  Wolf scored three times for Hanalei Bay.  Freeman added two goals and the team received one goal by handicap.

Empire 7, Granite Bay 5

In a noon Stagecoach Challenge consolation game, it was Empire (Rob Scapa, Eileen Duffy, Erik Wright and Nicolas Maciel) sneaking past Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Julie Fernandez, Alvaro Tadeo and Goyo Mariscal), 7-5.

First chukker goals from Nicolas Maciel (substituting for Jim Wright) and Rob Scapa went unanswered as the Empire defenders turned aside one assault after another.  The first chukker ended with Empire on top, 2-0.

The Empire polo team of Erik Wright, Nicolas Maciel, Rob Scapa and Eileen Duffy downed Granite Bay in the consolation match.

Maciel’s second goal of the day extended the Empire lead to three goals, 3-0, before Granite Bay found their offense.  Countering with goals from Eric Hammon and Alvaro Tadeo, Granite Bay came within a goal of the lead, 3-2, as the period ended.

Goals were scarce in the third as both defenses held.  A single 30-yard penalty conversion by Erik Wright accounted for all of the scoring as Empire left the field at the end of the first half on top of a 4-2 score.

A fourth period goal from Maciel was supported by a defense that held Granite Bay without a goal for the second consecutive chukker.  After four periods of play, Empire remained in the lead, 5-2.

Granite Bay came alive in the fifth, with goals from Tadeo and Goyo Mariscal, 5-4, but Empire answered back.  Single goals from Maciel and Wright restored their 3-goal lead, 7-4, with one period left to play.

The defensive tone of the game carried into the final chukker, with Granite Bay’s Julie Fernandez accounting for the only goal in a 7-5 Empire victory.

Maciel led the Empire attack with four goals.  Wright scored twice and Scapa accounted for a goal in the win.  Tadeo’s two goals were a team high for Granite Bay.  Single goals were scored by Fernandez, Mariscal and Hammon.

Evergreen and Hanalei Bay in Stagecoach Challenge final

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Krista Bonagudi scored twice in Hanalei Bay’s win over Empire Saturday afternoon, earning them a berth in Sunday’s 2018 Stagecoach Challenge final.

Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo, Juan Jo Gonzales and Bayne Bossom) captured the first final berth in the 2018 Stagecoach Challenge with a healthy 12-7 win over Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Julie Fernandez, Alvaro Tadeo and Goyo Mariscal) in a 10AM Saturday morning game at the Empire Polo Club.

Alvaro Tadeo got Granite Bay on the scoreboard first with a 60-yard penalty conversion, but Evergreen battled back.  Consecutive goals from the field from Juan Jo Gonzalez closed out the first chukker with evergreen on top, 2-1.

Evergreen controlled the second period as they put up four unanswered goals.  Gonzalez opened with a goal followed by a pair of goals from teammate Bayne Bossom to make it 5-1.  Gonzalez scored the final goal of the period to put Evergreen into a comfortable 6-1 lead.

Gonzalez stretched the Evergreen lead to seven goals, 8-1, scoring back to back goals in the third.  Goyo Mariscal scored Granite Bay’s first goal in over a chukker cutting the lead back to six goals, 8-2.  Gonzalez scored his third goal of the chukker and his fifth of the game to give Evergreen a commanding 9-2 halftime advantage.

Gonzalez opened the second half with a goal from the field, 10-2, before a stifling Granite Bay defensive effort shut the door on him.  A pair of goals from “Eric Hammon and a goal from Tadeo gave Granite Bay some hop as they left the field at the end of the fourth chukker trailing by five goals, 10-5.

Carlitos Galindo lashed out with two goals in the fifth, 12-5, as Evergreen pressured the Granite Bay defenders.  A 30-yard penalty goal from Hammon closed out the period with Evergreen in control, 12-6.

Tadeo scored the first goal of the sixth chukker, but that would be the end of any Granite Bay offense.  Single goals from Bossom and Galindo ended the game with Evergreen earning a spot in Sunday’s 2PM finals on the strength of the 14-7 victory.

Gonzalez led the field with six goals.  Galindo scored five times and Bossom added three goals for the win.  Tadeo and Hammon provided most of the offense for Granite Bay, scoring three goals apiece.  Mariscal added a goal in the loss.

Hanalei Bay 14, Empire 5

Ashton Wolf scored first for Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi, Ashton Wolf, Taylor Freeman and Ian Schnoebelen) in the 2PM Stagecoach Challenge game with a goal from Ian Schnoebelen making it 3-0 (Hanalei Bay received one goal by handicap) in the early minutes of the match.  Rob Scapa got Empire (Rob Scapa, Eileen Duffy, Erik Wright and Jim Wright) on the scoreboard with the final goal of the chukker to trail, 3-1.

Scapa tried to rally the Empire offense as he scored consecutives goals from the field for a 3-3 tie.  A goal from Krista Bonaguidi and two more from Wolf put Hanalei Bay in front by three goals at the end of the chukker, 6-3.

Wolf added two more goals in the third while a solid defensive effort by every member of the Hanalei Bay defense held Empire scoreless for a five-goal, 8-3 halftime lead.

Hanalei Bay continued to have their way with Empire in the fourth and fifth chukkers with single goals from Wolf and Schnoebelen and shutout defense expanding the lead to seven goals after the fourth, 10-3, and nine goals, 12-3 after scores from Taylor Freeman and Wolf in the fifth.

The two teams traded goals in the final chukker of the game with Bonaguidi and Wolf adding goals for Hanalei Bay and Empire responding with goals from Erik Wright and Jim Wright in the 14-5 beatdown.

Wolf scored a game-high eight goals for Hanalei Bay.  Bonaguidi and Schnoebelen added two goals each.  Freeman was credited with a goal and the team received one goal by handicap for the win.  Scapa’s three goals were a team-high for Empire.  Erik Wright and Jim Wright each added a goal in the losing effort.

The win sends Hanalei Bay to Sunday’s 2PM finals against Evergreen with Empire facing Granite Bay in a noon consolation match.  Both games will be played on Empire Polo Club Field 1.

The 2017-2018 Empire Polo season attracts players from across the country and around the world and offers fourteen weekends of fast-paced polo in the beautiful and relaxed setting of California’s winter playground.

The Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio, CA.  For further information go to the club website at http://empirepolo.com or call 760-342-7755.

Stagecoach Challenge finalists to be decided in Saturday action

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Evergreen’s Carlitos Galindo is currently the top scorer in Stagecoach Challenge competition with 12 goals. He will attempt to carry his team to victory in Saturday’s action and earn a berth in Sunday’s tournament final.

With two games already under their belts, three of the four teams competing in the in the 2018 Stagecoach Challenge will have an opportunity to earn a berth in Sunday’s final at the Empire Polo Club when they play their last preliminary games on Saturday, January 6th.

Evergreen (Tom Sprung, Carlitos Galindo, Juan Jo Gonzalez and Bayne Bossom) remains the favorite going into Saturday’s game with Granite Bay (Eric Hammon, Julie Fernandez, Alvaro Tadeo and Goyo Mariscal).  Boasting a 2-0 record and wins over both Empire (Rob Scapa, Eileen Duffy, Erik Wright and Jim Wright) and Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi, Ashton Wolf, Taylor Freeman and Ian Schnoebelen), Evergreen is the only undefeated team in competition.

Granite Bay’s Alvaro Tadeo will lead the Granite Bay charge in Saturday’s game against Evergreen.

Boasting two of the tournament’s top scorers in Carlitos Galindo (12 goals in two games) and Juan Jo Gonzalez (eight goals in two games), the team has been averaging 12.5 goals per game and yielding a paltry average of just eight goals per game on defense.

Granite Bay, 1-1, isn’t far off the mark behind high-scoring Alvaro Tadeo who trails scoring leader Galindo with 11 goals.  Eric Hammon is tied for fifth place in scoring with 8 goals in the last two games.  Granite Bay has averaged a respectable 12 goals per game on offense while giving up 9.5 goals per game on defense.

A win by Evergreen will put them into the finals with a perfect 3-0 record while a win by Granite Bay will give both of them 2-1 records and will keep all teams waiting for the outcome of the Empire vs. Hanalei Bay battle.  Evergreen and Granite Bay will meet on Field 7 at 10AM.

The second match of the afternoon will take place at 2PM also on Field 7 features Hanalei Bay with a 1-1 record against winless Empire at 0-2.

After losing their opening game of the tournament to Evergreen, 12-7, Hanalei Bay bounced back to hammer Granite Bay, 17-7.  With Taylor Freeman averaging 4.5 goals per game and teammate Ashton Wolf averaging 4 goals per game. Hanalei Bay has averaged 10 goals per game on offense while surrendering 14 goals per outing on defense.  Empire has the tournament’s number two high scorer with Jim Wright (with 11 goals over two games), but has been unable to mount a successful team effort in the early competition.   Ashton Wolf leads the Hanalei Bay attack with 8 goals over the last two games.

Empire’s Jim Wright is hoping to bring home a victory for Empire in Saturday’s 2PM game.

The two teams with the best records at the end of the day will meet one another in a 2PM championship game on Empire Polo Club’s Field 1.

The 2017-2018 Empire Polo season attracts players from across the country and around the world and offers fourteen weekends of fast-paced polo in the beautiful and relaxed setting of California’s winter playground.

The Empire Polo Club is located at 81-800 Avenue 51 in Indio, CA.  For further information go to the club website at http://empirepolo.com or call 760-342-7755.