NEWS

Teams A and C started out the competition with two early goals for each team. Team A’s Saralyn Painter hit a series of two-point shots to seal the win for Team A, 23-6. The second game on Saturday featured Team B and Team D. The teams traded goals early for a 2-2 tie after the first chukker. Sophia DeAngelis and Cate Godey scored quick goals, but Jonathan Wallace hit back with five unanswered points to pull within striking distance. Team D team proved to be too strong and rode off with a 19-7 win.

The final game pitted Team A against Team D. Both teams traded goals back and forth to end first chukker with a one goal difference between them. In the second chukker, Godey and Malcolm Krolick added goals to stay on pace with Danielle Scott’s two-point score, making the half time score 8-6 to Team A’s advantage. During the third chukker, Team D took control and jumped in front by a goal, but Team A came back with three unanswered goals to end the third, 12-10. Team A prevailed in the fourth chukker, taking the final win, 15-12.

The consolation opened with Luke Howe and Daniel Arnold scoring first to lead Team C to 3-0 over Team B in first chukker. Jonathan Wallace scored two goals in the second to get Team B on the board. With all players contributing on both teams, Team C took the win over Team B 19-9.

Daniel Arnold, Sophia DeAngelis, Catelyn Godey, and Saralyn Painter were selected as All-Star team members. Sophia DeAngelis was elected to receive the Sportsmanship Award. Saralyn Painter’s Armana was chosen as Best Playing Pony.

After a warm up game, six players took to the arena to compete in the Aiken Polo Club middle school tournament. Equus Events’ Madison Jordan opened the scoring with a goal from the field. Polo Adventures’ Brianna Jordan and Summer Kneece split three goals to take the lead. Equus Events’ Josh Escapite and Brianna Jordan swapped goals and Kneece scored again to end out the chukker 5-2 in favor of Polo Adventures. Escapite and teammate Maddie Godard put up three goals to tie the game at the beginning of the second chukker. Kneece matched their score and took the lead again for Polo Adventures with a score from the penalty line and two from the field. Madison Jordan pulled Equus Events within two to end the half 8-6 in favor of Polo Adventures.

Brianna Jordan extended the Polo Adventures lead by two goals to open the third chukker. Escapite and Kneece swapped goals through the middle of the chukker. Brianna Jordan and Escapite traded goals again to end the chukker with Polo Adventures ahead by four. Escapite closed the gap to three to open the fourth chukker, but Polo Adventures scored five unanswered goals to end the game 17-9 in favor of Polo Adventures.

Josh Escapite, Brianna Jordan, Madison Jordan and Summer Kneece were chosen as All-Star team members. Virginia Gwinn was elected to receive the Sportsmanship Award. Tiger Kneece’s Pate ridden by Maddie Godard, was chosen as Best Playing Pony.

The USPA Middle School League continues this weekend with tournaments at Bluewater Creek Polo Club (Killen, Alabama), Central Coast Polo Club (Los Osos, California) and Prestonwood Polo Club (Oak Point, Texas).