2021 Houston Women's Polo Championship

from Houston Polo 2022

by Poise Publications

Welcome from the President

2021 HOUSTON WOMEN’S POLO CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESENTED BY ENGEL & VÖLKERS HOUSTON AND KETEL ONE BOTANICAL

BY KC KRUEGER, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE USPA

of the half. Despite missing two penalty attempts, Rocking P came within two after Sanchez shot through traffic to leave the score at 4 to 2.5, entering halftime.

Determined to make their comeback attempt, Rocking P raced out of halftime with the guidance of coaches Tiger Kneece and Marcos Villanueva and the strong play of Marre and Sanchez. “Maitena [Marre] and I can do a lot because we know each other from Argentina,” Sanchez said. “We play together a lot and have the confidence to tell each other things.” Sanchez contributed back-to-back goals, including a run to goal off a pass from Marre, allowing Rocking P to hold their first lead of the game with the handicap advantage: 5.5 to 5.

Rocking P turned their attention to the fourth chukker. For nearly four minutes of play, all eight players were closely marked, with their defenders consistently on their hips to maintain the 0.5 goal difference in favor of Rocking P. Running down the left side of the field, Sanchez raced past her defender and completed the goal to extend Rocking P’s lead to 1.5. Rocking P secured the 6.5 to 5 victory to claim the Texas Women’s Open.

In 2021, the 27th consecutive year that the Houston Polo Club has hosted a women’s tournament, 100 ladies from the United Kingdom, Argentina, and all over the United States competed over five days at five different levels of play: the Texas Women’s Open, the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap, the Farish Cup Invitational, the Bayou City Cup Invitational, and the Ladies’ Junior Invitational.

Concluding an exceptional weekend of elite women’s polo, the Texas Women’s Open Final featured the undefeated Engel & Völkers Houston (Grace Mudra, Lily Lequerica, KC Krueger, and Sarah Wiseman) against Rocking P (Bridget Price, Summer Kneece, Maitena Marre, and Mili Sanchez).

After giving up a three-goal lead in their first-round loss to Engel & Völkers Houston, Rocking P was in search of redemption, preparing tirelessly for their second opportunity in Sunday’s final. “We probably watched the film six times and said, ‘if we play [Engel & Völkers Houston] again, we’re beating them’,” Bridget Price stated. Ultimately, Rocking P’s preparation and determination came to fruition on Farish Field as they claimed the trophy in a 6.5 to 5 win.

A mainstay in women’s polo, Rocking P was set to compete in the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship ® Semifinals before COVID-19 postponed the remainder of the tournament. They also opted out of the 2020 edition of the Texas Women’s Open. “We took a break last year because of COVID-19,” Price shared. “Rocking P’s been in the tournament pretty much every other year, so when we came back, I got to play with great teammates.”

Scoring four goals, including three during Rocking P’s run in the second half, Sanchez was named Most Valuable Player. “The strategy was creating space, and it was essential to go in with a lot of fire because it was a very difficult game,” Sanchez said. “We were unlucky at first, but we improved minute by minute.”

The Houston Women’s Polo Championship is the largest and one of the most prestigious women’s tournaments in the United States and the world. The Houston Polo Club is grateful to the tournament’s 2021 title sponsors, Engel & Völkers Houston and Ketel One Botanical, for supporting this major polo event.

Showcasing a youthful lineup of players aged 21 and under, Rocking P entered the rematch against Engel & Völkers Houston with .5 on handicap but fell victim to a slow start. Running downfield on the opening play of the game, Krueger left the ball in the goal mouth for Lequerica to hit a backshot, giving Engel & Völkers Houston the early lead. In the second play, Krueger and Lequerica’s connection resulted in a goal, leaving Rocking P trailing by two before two minutes had come off the clock. Settling in, Rocking P found the scoreboard on an impressive hook and backshot from Kneece, who was playing women’s high-goal for the first time.

“These ladies are so good,” Kneece said. “I feel like I’m learning from the best players, every single one of them.” Facing a 4 to 1.5 deficit at the end of the first chukker but armed with a renewed defensive focus, Rocking P held Engel & Völkers Houston off the scoresheet in the second chukker, allowing them to cut into the lead before the end