HYT Polo/California Polo Club: Ricardo Caravetta, Hannah Taylor, Alejandro Nordheimer & Ernie Ezcurra
Played in front of a very big Cantina breakfast crowd, the deciding game of the 2020 Spreckels 2 Goal tournament turned out to be an extremely entertaining and well played affair. After two weeks of qualifying, the contest featured Alpha Omega (Eileen Duffy -1, Malia McCoy 1, Cameron Smith 1, Erik Wright 1) and HYT/CPC Polo (Hanna Taylor -1, Ricardo Caravetta -1, Ernie Ezcurra 2, Alejandro Nordheimer 2).
HYT/CPC started out quickly with two goals from Ezcurra (a penalty four and a field goal). However, Alpha Omega was able to regroup as Wright countered with a penalty four strike and a penalty two conversion. McCoy, on a perfect backhand setup from Duffy, then scored her first and it was 3 – 2 Alpha Omega after one.
McCoy and Smith scored from the field to give Alpha Omega a lead of three in the early second but the always present Ezcurra scored his second from the field for HYT/CPC to narrow the gap to a pair. Wright then converted a penalty three to take a three goal Alpha Omega lead to the half at 6- 3.
The early third saw Smith score his second and the Greek lead was now four. However, with Ezcurra mounted on the eventual Best Playing Pony, the Angelenos took over. Ezcurra converted a penalty two and counted two field goals and Nordheimer scored his first and the game was now tied at seven after three periods.
Alpha Omega pushed back early in the fourth and Wright converted a penalty two to regain the lead – if only by one. Ezcurra responded with another from the field to tie the count at eight. Nordheimer then scored the winner to give the 2 Goal Spreckels Cup to HYT/CPC by a final count of 9 – 8.
Ezcurra, with dominating, influential, and controlling play was selected as the MVP and his third chukker mare Diva was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg
MVP Ernie Ezcurra
BPP Diva, owned & played by Ernie Ezcurra