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LAS MONJITAS OVERCOMES DEFICIT TO BEAT LECHUZA CARACAS IN PIAGET GOLD CUP POLO

March 11, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL – Las Monjitas overcame the four goal handicap advantage awarded to Lechuza Caracas following its line up change to win 13-12 during Piaget Gold Cup play in the USPA tournament at the International Polo Club Palm Beach today.

From the beginning it looked as though the substitution of Sapo Caset and Guille Aguero for brothers Pite and Sebastian Merlos by Lechuza would pay off big. In the first chukker they added to their four goal advantage on two goals by Caset and another by Victor Vargas to take a commanding 7-2 lead. By halftime Las Monjitas still trailed by five 10-5.

The halftime discussion by the team in orange, Las Monjitas, was a total strategy revamp as they restructured their defense and revved up their offensive play. Chukkers four and five saw Lechuza go scoreless as the Orangemen evened the score at 10 to set up the sixth chukker showdown. Lechuza's Aguero struck first but was quickly tied again by Las Monjitas' Eduardo Astrada whose brother Javier added two more to go ahead 13-11. As time was running out Caset scored again but too late to win the game.

Las Monjitas advances to play another North American Polo League team Bendabout on Friday and with their second loss Lechuza will move into the Butler Handicap consolation round next week.

Piaget Gold Cup action will continue Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach when Audi takes on defending champion Crab Orchard at noon .

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 120 th 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

LAS MONJITAS 2-3-0-2-3-3=13 (6 penalty goals) Javier Astrada 6
LECHUZA CARACAS 4hdcp-3-1-2-0-0-2=12 (2 penalty goals) Sapo Caset 4

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