NEWS

Comfortably holding onto the lead throughout the entire game, BTA defeated Pegasus/Propaganda 10-9 to win the USPA Regional President’s Cup 8-goal Saturday, November 4, at Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas.

BTA’s Alejandro Gonzalez scored the first goal of the chukker, but was soon answered back by a quick goal from Mason Wroe*. Chrys Beal followed with a Penalty 3 conversion to end the first 2-1. Continuing to trade goals, both teams steadily increased their tallies by one in the second and after an identical third chukker to the first, BTA remained the frontrunner 5-3 going into halftime.

Play began to pick up rapidly in the second half, goal for goal Andras and Gonzalez fought for control, each scoring two goals. Despite several penalties against BTA, the scoreboard reflected an increase in both team’s total by three points to end the fourth 8-6 in favor of BTA. Opening the fifth chukker with yet another goal, Andras’ aggressive attempt to close the gap was met by a successful Penalty 2 conversion from Beal. Gonzalez followed it up with the last goal for BTA. Coming up just one goal short in the end, Nick Cifuni and Wroe put two more on the board, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the lead. BTA came away the victors in the final 10-9.

The game high-scorer, contributing five out of 10 total goals for BTA, Alejandro Gonzalez was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Shrimps, owned and played by Pegasus/Propaganda’s Nick Cifuni during the sixth chukker.

*Mason Wroe and Steve Krueger are Team USPA alumni. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©Kaylee Wroe Photography/Houston Polo Club.