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Two NAPL Teams Win Opening Rounds of Stanford U.S. Open

March 30, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL - A bit of luck and experience helped two North American Polo League teams win in today's opening matches of the Stanford. U.S. Open Polo Championship played at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Hoping to trot away with its third open title, Isla Carroll kicked off the opening rounds today with a solid win as the foursome defeated Bendabout 13-9.

"This gives us a lot of confidence," said Isla Carroll team captain John Goodman who captured the U.S. Open title in 2004 and 1997. "We know we can win. We just have to play our game and do well." Fueled by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres who scored eight goals for Isla Carroll, the team took command of the game during the third chukker, when Pieres scored three and his teammate Marcos di Paola scored two from the field, leaving the score at 9-5 at the half. Bendabout was not able to catch-up to Isla Carroll's lead during the second half as di Paola and Pieres scored an additional four goals and Bendabout's equal four during the last three chukkers were not enough to close the gap.

Meanwhile, during the day's second game, Skeeterville, coming back from a loss in the finals of the Piaget Gold Cup, had lady luck on their side as the team's Adam Snow scored the tiebreaking goal at the buzzer, defeating Zacara 11-10.

"It was an intense six-seconds," said Snow who scored two consecutive penalty shots in the last chukker and the final winning goal with an additional five seconds added to the clock. "I haven't been hitting the penalties for our team, Julio's been doing that. So to hit the two penalties was a big deal." Stanford U.S. Open action will continue on Tuesday, April 1 when Black Watch will face Audi at noon and Orchard Hill will take on Crab Orchard at 3 p.m.

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 3-1-5-1-2-1 = 13 (2 penalty goals) Facundo Pieres 8
BENDABOUT 0-3-2-1-1-2 = 9 (3 penalty goals) Mariano Gonzalez 4

SKEETERVILLE 2-2-1-2-1-3 = 11 (5 penalty goals) Julio Arellano 5
ZACARA 1-2-1-3-2-1 = 10 (3 penalty goals) Mike Azzaro 4

Click Here for the updated schedule, scores and rosters of the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.