By Sarah Eakin
The finals of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship at the National Polo Center was a game of two halves resulting in a 12-9 win for Buena Vibra over La Fe Eastern Hay.
Wellington favorite and USA 10-goal player Hope Arellano dominated the first half with six goals to give La Fe a 7-5 lead by halftime. But Buena Vibra had backup waiting for them in the end zone, with some five or six unofficial coaches, whose advice helped them to take back control in the second half. “We changed the plan a little bit,” said Agustin “Tincho” Merlos, of the team’s turnaround in the second half.
The former 10-goal player was joined in the coaching zone by, among others, high-goal player Mariano Gonzalez, former England player and longstanding professional Andrew Hine — whose daughter and 9-goal player Milly was playing back — and from Argentina, by phone, Milo Fernandez-Araujo, whose daughter Candelaria (Cande), also a 9-goaler, led the second half offensive for Buena Vibra to earn the Most Valuable Player award.
“We swapped the positions and put the pressure somewhere else,” Merlos continued. “They adjusted very, very well, and they have a good system. They believe in each other, and they play great. We knew once they could find their game, it was going to be like this.”
Buena Vibra’s lineup also included sisters Valentina and Guiliana Tarazona, aged 15 and 14, to give the team an average age of just 18 years. Valentina won the tournament last year with Buena Vibra, so having her sister alongside her this time made the victory special.
“This is what we’ve been preparing for all year, and with Giu Giu, my sister, it’s amazing. Hope is one of the most difficult players to ever play against, and it is one of the toughest teams — not easy at all,” she said.
Read more by equestrian writer Sarah Eakin at www.paperhorsemedia.com.
