Balls to the Wall Casablanca hangs on to Arena Handicap title By Gwen Rizzo Photos by ChukkerTV
McClure River Ranch’s Tom Barrack comes in to block Casablanca’s Nic Roldan in the final.
Defending champion Casablanca downed McClure River Ranch, 12-10, in the final of the U.S. Arena Handicap Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale, Colorado, July 29. It was the fourth time the Casablanca team has played together and they played like a well-oiled machine. Four teams played off in the event. In the first semifinal match, Casablanca faced Seminole Casino, pitting father and son, Juan and Juancito Bollini and mother and son, Melissa and Grant Ganzi against each other. Casablanca jumped right out with Grant Ganzi getting on the board with a two-point shot. He followed with another goal then sunk a Penalty 2 within the first three minutes. Roldan hit the goal before Seminole was awarded a penalty, but Melissa’s shot hit a divot and went wide by inches. Roldan scored again and Grant sent the ball to goal but was whistled on the call so it didn’t count. With less than a minute on the clock, Melissa carried a Penalty 5 through traffic to put Seminole Casino on the board, ending the first period, 6-1. Seminole Casino fought back in the second with Melissa hopping on a pass from Bollini out of the line-up, walking it along the wall for her second
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goal. Negro Novillo Astrada, working in the middle, turned back a sure goal from Casablanca, then took a back shot pass from Juan to score. A minute later, Juan shot from the far wall to find the goal mouth for a two-pointer, bringing Seminole Casino within one, 6-5. Casablanca was caught off guard by Seminole’s comeback but Roldan managed to score two more to increase the Casablanca lead to 8-5 at the half. Both teams came out firing in the third period. Novillo Astrada backed a ball out of the opening line-up to Melissa along the wall, who pushed it into the goal. She followed with another goal then converted a Penalty 2 and just like that, with a little over a minute into the chukker the teams were tied, 8-8. Casablanca was awarded a Penalty 2 but it went wide. Shortly after, Roldan flicked the ball from his nearside into the goal to take back the lead. Juancito added to it with a goal at the three-minute mark. Over zealous, Alejandro Novillo Astrada sent the ball over the wall several times before he found the goal. Juan followed with a goal of his own to level the score at 10-all. Juancito broke the tie after walking the ball along the wall into goal then scoring another with under a minute left. It was anyone’s game as the teams came back for
