Women’s Polo
2021 U.S Open Women’s Championship
Brilliant BTA / The Villages 2021 U.S Open Women’s Championship
10 20
FINAL
M
AR
MAR
Where: International Polo Club, Palm Beach
F
ollowing on from their loss in the postponed 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship Final, BTA/The Villages made history on Saturday 20 March as the first all-American team to win the title, with a 6-5 win against defending champions, Hawaii Polo Life, at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Going into the Final both teams looked impressively strong, with 3-0 undefeated records apiece and this evenness was reflected in the several tied scores throughout the Final. 10 goaler Hazel Jackson-Gaona flew out of the starting blocks and secured the first goal for Hawaii Polo Life, immediately applying pressure on the opposition, however her card was marked by BTA/The Villages coach Tommy Biddle who urged his team to keep her away from the ball and to try make Jackson-Gaona work for every bit of action. Each attack was returned with a counter attack and going into half-time, the scores sat on an even score of 3-3. Hawaii Polo Life began the second chukka with a great display of teamwork resulting in their fourth goal of the match and Mia Cambiaso’s first goal of the day. However, Hawaii Polo Life ultimately let themselves down with the number of fouls committed, with their tally 18 versus just two misdemeanours for BTA/ The Villages, although BTA/The Villages weren’t able to capitalise on every penalty opportunity with just three out of five penalty conversions overall. These penalty conversions were particularly important in the third and fourth chukkas as they allowed KC Krueger to add to BTA/The Villages scoresheet, while Hawaii Polo Life had to work hard to level the scores.
44
Polo Times, April 2021
5
Hawaii Polo Life
6
American BTA/ The Villages
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