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ISLA CARROLL AND SKEETERILLE WIN BRACKETS
ADVANCE TO QUARTERFINAL IN PIAGET GOLD CUP

March 13, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL – Isla Carroll swept its bracket with an overtime win over Zacara 11-10 and Skeeterville squeaked by Black Watch 14-13 in USPA Piaget Gold Cup tournament play today at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Both North American Polo League teams now advance to the quarterfinal rounds.

Isla Carroll was down by two goals going into the final chukker 9-7. But, Facundo Pieres, who finished the day with eight goals, brought his team within one before Carlos Gracida of Zacara countered with his seventh goal of the day. With the chukker half gone Isla Carroll's Marcos di Paolo again brought his team to within one 10-9 and as time was running out a costly foul by Zacara put Pieres at the 30 yard stripe where he converted the penalty shot to send the game into overtime.
In the sudden death it took Paolo only a minute to get the pass from Pieres and score the game winner and finish off Zacara 11-10.

Skeeterville saw its four goal lead dwindle in the pivotal fifth chukker as Black Watch scored five times to tie the game at 12. Adam Snow and Julio Arellano of Skeeterville went to work in the sixth chukker to put their team up by two. Black Watch's Pablo McDonough managed to score the final goal of the game but his team fell short 14-13.

With the victory Skeeterville wins its bracket and will go on to play in the quarterfinals Sunday, March 16. Black Watch with its second place bracket finish will draw to play a bracket winner in the quarters. The remaining quarter final field of eight teams will be decided Friday, March 14 at 10 am when Las Monjitas plays Bendabout.

This is the second year the Piaget Gold Cup has been played at International Polo Club. The USPA Gold Cup has been played since 1974 and is one of only three polo tournaments rated at 26 goals in the United States. The other two are the C.V. Whitney and the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments until April 20. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling 561-204-5687 or the Polo Hotline for game updates at 561-282-5290. Web address, www.internationalpoloclub.com or www.northamericanpololeague.com

ISLA CARROLL 3-1-1-1-1-3-1=11 o/t (4 penalty goals) Facundo Pieres 8
ZACARA 3-2-1-0-3-1-0=10 (3 penalty goals) Carlos Gracida 7

SKEETERVILLE 3-3-3-2-1-2=14 (3 penalty goals) Julio Arellano 8
BLACK WATCH 1 hdcp-2-1-3-0-5-1=13 (4 penalty goals) Pablo MacDonough 8

Click Here for the updated USPA Piaget Gold Cup Roster and Schedule