All-American

Kylie Sheehan takes the ball, supported by KC Krueger, while Hazel Jackson and Mia Cambiaso try to catch up.

BTA/The Villages takes Women’s Open

By Gwen Rizzo • Photos by David Lominska/Polographics

BTA/The Villages was victorious in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, March 20, at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, avenging the 2020 defeat played just a month earlier.

The all-American BTA/The Villages team (Paige Boone, Kylie Sheehan, KC Krueger, Tiffany Busch) fell to Hawaii Polo Life (Dolores Onetto, Pam Flanagan, Mia Cambiaso, Nina Clarkin) in the 2020 championship, which had been canceled last year due to COVID-19. The final was rescheduled for late February, when Hawaii Polo Life narrowly edged out BTA, 6-5.

A week later, the two teams met in the final of the Tabebuia Cup played at Port Mayaca Polo Club in nearby Okeechobee, Florida. Hazel Jackson took over for Nina Clarkin on Hawaii Polo Life, and the team went on to double up BTA, 6-3.

But BTA doesn’t know how to quit. The women all played unselfish polo, working hard for each other every game, and didn’t look back.

“This team plays with so much heart, so much dedication to the sport,” Busch said after this year’s final match. “It is a true honor to take the field with these ladies. We had an amazing coach, and after losing two other finals to the same team we were able

Ten-goal Hazel Jackson led Hawaii Polo Life with four of five goals.

to come back and win it.”

After the Tabebuia Cup, Jackson stayed with Hawaii Polo Life for this year’s version of the Women’s Open. Five teams played off over a week at Port Mayaca Polo Club before the final was played at International Polo Club’s Field No. 1.

In preliminary play, BTA/The Villages edged Polo Gear Coffee Company (4-3) and Iconica (3-2) while Hawaii Polo Life slipped Dundas (6-5) and Polo Gear Coffee Company (5-4). Dundas doubled up Iconica 63 in another match. In the semis, BTA/The Villages topped Iconica, 4-3, while Hawaii Polo Life defeated Dundas, 5-4.

BTA/The Villages enlisted Tommy Biddle as coach. He remarked that the team was generally slow to start so in preparation for the final, he had them bring extra horses to stick and ball for 20 minutes prior to the final so when game time began, they would be warmed up and ready to go. Krueger also spent time practicing her penalty shooting, which proved valuable in the game.

Hawaii Polo Life won the opening throw-in and brought the ball toward goal, Jackson necking it between the posts in the first 30 seconds. A flurry of errors by Hawaii Polo Life set up BTA/The Villages with a trio of spot hits but they were unable to get through the Hawaii defense. Hawaii then was awarded a Penalty 2, but it went wide. Sheehan took control of the ball and aimed for goal, but it too went wide. Down to just over a minute in the chukker, Hawaii Polo Life was whistled for dangerous riding while it was knocking in. BTA was awarded a Penalty 2, which Krueger eased between the posts. Less than a minute later, BTA was awarded another Penalty 2

Tiffany Busch gives her horse a little love.

Adolfo Cambiaso’s El Pico, played by Mia Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony. but this time it went outside the uprights.

Early in the second, Hazel drove the ball to goal with Boone in hot pursuit. Boone executed a strong back shot, clearing the ball just before it passed the goal line. Hawaii was later whistled on another play, and BTA was awarded a Penalty 4 but was unable to convert it. Hawaii brought the ball to the opposite side of the field and Cambiaso, hustling to reach the goal, got around a Boone hook and shot but couldn’t connect. At the halfway mark, BTA fouled and Hawaii was awarded a Penalty 2. Jackson easily converted it to take the lead.

Later, Sheehan got the ball down by the goal. It was stopped by Flanagan but Sheehan kept fighting and hit the mark with a nearside shot. Soon after, Jackson ran the ball to goal, blowing past Busch while Flanagan supported her by riding off Krueger. With just 30 seconds on the clock, Sheehan hit a tremendous 80-yard shot that landed just in front of the goal. Boone was there to get the ball through the posts. The half ended with the teams knotted, 3-3.

The teams continued to battle in the second half. Hawaii moved the action to its side of the field. The ball was heading over the back line, but Flanagan’s well-placed back set the ball up for Cambiaso to score. A few more Penalty 5s in BTA’s favor kept breaking up the play. Then BTA was awarded a Penalty 2, which Krueger easily converted. The chukker ended with the teams level, 4-4.

BTA started the last period with a spot hit. Busch sent it down field but it was intercepted by Jackson. Boone, under pressure from Onetto, stole the ball

BTA/The Villages’ Kylie Sheehan took MVP honors.

from Jackson and headed to goal but couldn’t finish it off. Hawaii Polo Life was caught fouling again and BTA was awarded it’s fourth Penalty 2. Krueger hit the target to take the lead. Three minutes into the chukker, Jackson brought the ball close to goal but it got stuck in a divot. She circled around in traffic, got the ball out and finished the goal to tie it up.

Yet another spot hit for BTA allowed it to get the ball within shooting range. Kylie sent it to Busch, who passed to Boone. Boone made a picture-perfect neck to give BTA the lead with under a minute left. The teams came back to the line-up but with just eight seconds remaining, Hawaii was whistled once again. Busch passed to Boone who took the ball to the boards as time expired.

Kylie Sheehan was MVP and Adolfo Cambiaso’ El Pico, played by Mia Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony. The gelding was recently purchased from Lindor Novillo.

“This is definitely the most exciting win of my career,” Sheehan said. “We came back today really hungry and we felt really confident. We believed in each other and all four of us played our part on the team.”

The all-American team is composed of local women. “I told them before we took the field and as we were coming off, it is an honor to play with all of them,” Boone said. “We won it as an all-American team and everyone gave it their all.”

“We don’t travel the world and play polo; we run polo schools and clubs here in the U.S.” Krueger, a mother of two small children, added. “I think it’s a little more challenging for us, but we can come together and play with the best players in the world. It shows we are just as capable of winning. ... American women polo players are definitely on the rise!”

BTA/The Villages was the only team without a player over 6 goals. The balanced line up proved to be a benefit.

“One of the advantages of playing with the team we had is we are all pretty even,” Krueger explained. “Tiffany is obviously a very good Back, Paige is a great No. 1, but we had to cover. If Tiffany had to go, I can cover, and Kylie can cover and Paige can always cover. It is a great team dynamic.”

Sheehan agreed. “The combination of us four is the best in the country right now. It’s just teamwork, believing in each other and staying positive,” she said. “We make each other play better. It’s a sign of a really good team.”

Coach Biddle was proud of the foursome. “They played awesome. These girls were working and working. They stayed tough with their man. I’m just so happy for them,” he said. •

Coach Tommy Biddle celebrates with BTA/ The Villages’ Tiffany Busch, KC Krueger, Kylie Sheehan and Paige Boone.

Dundas 22

Sarah Siegel-Magness 2 Nina Clarkin 10 Hope Arellano 7 Olivia Uechtritz 3

Hawaii Polo Life 22

Dolores Onetto 0 Pamela Flanagan 4 Mia Cambiaso 8 Hazel Jackson 10

Iconica 22

Maureen Brennan 5 Clara Cassino 8 Milly Hine 6 Anna Coscia 3

Polo Gear Coffee Co. 22

Dawn Jones 6 Isabelle Parsons 8 Gillian Johnston 6 Danielle Lussi 2

BTA/The Villages 22 Kylie Sheehan 5 Paige Boone 5 KC Krueger 6 Tiffany Busch 6