Orchard Hill Claims Spot in C.V. Whitney Cup Final With 12-7 Win in Lucchese's Season Debut

March 3
Uploaded by USPA Tournament News
Published in Scores, Results, Round-Ups
Hits: 25014
Print,

Orchard Hill Claims Spot in C.V. Whitney Cup Final
With 12-7 Win in Lucchese's Season Debut

WELLINGTON, Fla. - March 3, 2016 - Orchard Hill won the C.V. Whitney Cup semifinal 12-7, but if you ask Facundo Pieres, numbers can be deceiving. "The game was much more even than what the scoreboard reflects. It was a lot tougher on the field than what a difference of five goals looks like," he said.

Facundo Pieres. Photo: David Lominska/Polographics.com

Sapo Caset and Julian De Lusarreta

David Lominska/Polographics.com

Orchard Hill didn't quite know what to expect from its opponent. Lucchese drew a bye to the semis, which were held at Lechuza Caracas. "No one had played them before, so all we knew was that it was going to be very tough because they're a good team," said Polito Pieres. "We had to fight to the end."

Lucchese went with probably the only viable strategy against a seasoned 26-goal powerhouse like Orchard Hill; go over the top and stay there. Lucchese consistently pushed the envelope, trying to win every bowl-in, steal every ball and foil every attempt on goal. It was a flat-out battle of the 10-goalers, with Sapo Caset (who made five goals) all over Facundo and Polito Pieres (who made six and four goals, respectively). But as Facundo Pieres said, this wasn't a mathematics game. Lucchese rolled onto the field breathing fire. Just 36 seconds into the game teammates Caset and Nico Pieres drew simultaneous yellow cards. Later on in the game Facundo and Polito Pieres got flagged, as did teammate Julian de Lusarreta.

Caset scored in every chukker but the third. He made goals on several sharply angled neck shots, one from over 60 yards out and another from 90. His moves on the field were cat-like. He duped Orchard Hill on a number of plays, casually tapping the ball to lure his opponents in and then slamming it down the field. However, Caset's efforts were not strong enough to outmatch Orchard Hill, who never lost the lead throughout the game.

Benjamin Avendaño subbed for Orchard Hill patron Steve Van Andel, and in the second half Team USPA member Todd Thurston subbed for patron John Muse.

The game was live streamed by ChukkerTV, a partner of the USPA Polo Network. Continuous live coverage of the C.V. Whitney Cup resumes Thursday, March 3 at 11 a.m. with the semifinal game between Audi and White Birch at Lechuza Caracas. The draw party for the USPA Gold Cup® will be live streamed Thursday at 7:30 p.m. from the International Polo Club Palm Beach. All times are EST.

About the United States Polo Association®

The U.S. Polo Association was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its Member Clubs and Registered Players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions, and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts. For more information, please visit uspolo.org

Founded in 1890, the United States Polo Association (USPA) is the national governing body for the sport of polo in North America. Proudly celebrating 125 years at this stature, the USPA is currently comprised of almost 300 member clubs, thousands of individual members, and oversees 40 national tournaments.

Fast Facts:

Location: 9011 Lake Worth Road
Lake Worth, Florida 33467

Phone: (800) 232-8772
Website: uspolo.org

Click here for membership information.

About US Polo Assn.

U.S. Polo Assn. brand products are authentic and officially sanctioned by the United States Polo Association (USPA), the governing body for the sport of polo in the U.S. since 1890.

USPA Global Licensing Inc., a wholly owned, for-profit, tax-paying subsidiary of the USPA, manages its licensing program in over 135 countries through independent retail, department, online and U.S. Polo Assn. brand stores.

Primarily featuring sportswear for men, women, and children, the product offering has expanded to include accessories, luggage, watches, shoes, home furnishings and more.

As the steward of the Association's marks, USPA Global Licensing's mission is to develop a long-term source of revenue to help underwrite numerous programs for education about and promotion of the sport of polo in the U.S., from memberships and handicaps, to clubs and tournaments; from interscholastic programs to Team USPA mentoring; with particular concern for equine welfare and player safety throughout.

Website: uspoloassn.com

Phone: 561-227-6994

Media Contact:
Shannon Stilson
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward this email
This email was sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. \| Update Profile/Email Address \| Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ \| About our service provider.

United States Polo Association \| 9011 Lake Worth Road \| Lake Worth \| FL \| 33467