Palm Beach Polo Team

Lechuza Caracas scores win; moves into semifinals

Lechuza Caracas scored an 8-7 win over Las Monjitas to earn a berth in Thursday’s semifinals of the 2010 United States Open Championship Monday afternoon. Wet grounds and a threatening sky were ominous signs, but the teams got through six chukkers of polo before the first afternoon raindrop fell.

Wet fields at the International Polo club caused the 11:30 am match to be played on the grounds of the Lechuza Caracas facility in Wellington, and ominous dark clouds threatened the game throughout.

The first two chukkers of play were uneventful, with the teams being tied 2-2 going into the third frame.

Tight defenses weren’t as prevalent as inept offenses as neither team managed a goal until 5:01 of the chukker. Sapo Caset scored his second goal of the game followed by teammate Juan Martin Nero’s first goal of the game, and Lechuza took a 4-2 halftime lead.

Caset scored two more goals in the fourth while Las Monjitas managed a single goal from Javier Astrada. The period ended with Lechuza holding on to a 6-3 lead.

Alejandro “Negro” Astrada got Las Monjitas back into the game in the fifth chukker with a pair of converted penalty shots, but Nero scored in the waning seconds of the period to keep Lechuza on top by two goals, 7-5.

Nero took a well-placed backhand pass from team captain Victor Vargas and tapped it through the goal posts with 5:30 gone in the final chukker, and it appeared to be over. Las Monjitas continued to press a very uncharacteristic attack for the Astradas, getting a single goal from Javier Astrada with 1:25 left to play. Negro Astrada scored the final goal as time expired and Lechuza took the game, 8-7.

Lechuza’s win moved them into Thursday’s 4 pm semifinal match against Audi. Valiente is scheduled to meet Crab Orchard in the earlier 2 pm semifinal.

The International Polo Club Palm Beach

The International Polo Club Palm Beach is a return to the way the game of polo is meant to be enjoyed, where polo players and fans of all ages can gather together in a world-class venue for the love of the sport and the lifestyle.

Located in Wellington, the heart of South Florida’s legendary horse country, the International Polo Club Palm Beach is a world-class polo club designed by and for Polo players, to showcase the finest the sport has to offer. The entrance to the club is via a palm-lined drive, that leads past tennis courts to the steps of our magnificent pool and members only Mallet Grille. The rolling natural terrain is augmented by a large lake, lush tropical landscaping and some of the most carefully manicured polo fields in the world. Watching high-goal polo from the private boxes, viewing stands, field side tailgates and special hospitality tents, all overlooking our Championship Field, is an unparalleled experience.