The Memorial by Piaget Polo Tournament

Nic Roldan scores ten goals in tournament opener

Nic Roldan scored ten goals as Longfield (Hannah Buchan, Matias Gonzalez, Nic

Roldan and Tommy Collingwood) registered a 12-10 win over Palm House (Glen

Straub, Carlos Diaz, Tommy Biddle and Joey Casey) as The Memorial by Piaget got

underway Wednesday morning, bringing an end to the Grand Champions Polo Club’s

2013 spring season. Six 12-goal teams will be competing in the club’s spring season

ender

First chukker goals by Tommy Collingwood and Nic Roldan were countered by a single

goal from Palm House’s Tommy Biddle as both teams struggled to find their pace and

rhythm. Longfield left the field at the end of the period with a 2-1 edge.

Palm House took control of the game in the second chukker, shutting down the

Longfield attack while picking up three goals of their own. Biddle added two more to his

total while Carlos Diaz got on the scoreboard for the first time. After two chukkers of

play Palm Hose took a 4-2 lead.

The two teams traded goals in the third with Biddle converting a 60-yard penalty shot

and Glen Straub adding a goal from the field. Roldan accounted for both of Longfield’s

goals. Palm House continued to lead by two goals, 6-4, at the end of the first half.

A re-grouped Longfield foursome took the field in the second half, and wrested control

of the game away from Palm House. Roldan scored the first goal of the chukker at

the 6:07 mark, cutting the Palm House lead to a single goal, 6-5. Less than a minute

later Biddle unloaded on a shot from 120-yard out that split the goalposts for a 7-5

advantage. Three consecutive goals from Longfield (two from Roldan and one from

Collingwood) ended the period with Longfield guarding a one goal, 8-7 lead.

Three minutes into the fifth chukker Biddle tied it up at 8-8 on a shot from the field, but

Roldan recaptured the lead with his seventh goal of the game. With one chukker left to

play in regulation time, Longfield was ahead, 9-8.

Consecutive goals from Roldan opened the sixth chukker, expanding the Longfield lead

to three goals, 11-8. Biddle cut into it when he converted his second 60-yard penalty

shot of the game, 11-9. Roldan and Biddle each scored single goals to end the match

in a 12-10 Longfield victory.

Roldan led all scoring with ten goals on the day. Collingwood scored the other two

goals for the win. Biddle scored eight times (two on penalty shots) for Palm House.

Straub and Diaz added single goals in the loss.

Tournament action continues on Thursday with ELG (Juan Bollini, Jr., Martin Estrada,

Kris Kampsen and Avery Chapman) facing Audi (Grant Ganzi, Wes Finlayson, Lucas

Lalor and J. J. Celis) at 3:30pm.

The four-day tournament will feature semifinals on Friday followed by three Sunday

matches, including the finals.