Bensoleimani.com: Ian Schnoebelen (sub), Remy Du Celliee Muller, Tavi Usandizaga & Ben Soleimani

On, without question, the best day of the season weather wise and in front of, once again, a huge crowd, the 12 Goal final of the historic Spreckels Cup was won by Ben Soleimani’s bensoleimani.com over Canada’s Ron Matheson and his Highwood foursome.

First played for in 1909, the Spreckels Tournament is indeed a celebrated part of Southern California polo history and was last contested in 2016 at the San Diego Polo Club.

For the 2020 revival, bensoleimani.com mounted up with the same roster with which they won the Fish Creek Constitution tournament just two weeks earlier – with one exception. With Soleimani out as the result of a fall in the semi-final against Ohana Polo, Ian Schnoebelen 0, was added. Remaining in the line-up were Gustavo Usandizaga 5, Tommy Alberdi 4, and Remy Du Celliee Muller 3. The Highwood response saw Mathison joined by Marcelo Rodriguez-Abbiati 4, Jared Sheldon 4, and Francisco Rodriguez-Mera 4.

The thinking by many before the match – based on Highwood’s 13 – 6 thrashing of the Soleimani group in qualifying play – was that Highwood would probably win. Didn’t happen.

Bensoleimani.com started quickly as Alberdi scored an early field goal to grab the very early lead. Sheldon was able to reply with a counter of his own and the score was tied going to the second.

With Highwood – clearly outplaying bensoleimani.com - scoring three field goals in the second (Sheldon one and Rodriguez-Mera two) to just one for the website guys (Alberdi with a penalty four) it appeared that they just might take this one as well going to the third period leading by two at 4 – 2. Didn’t happen.

The third was all bensoleimani.com as Du Cellei Muller, Usandizaga, and Alberdi (penalty two from 10 yards) scored and the reply from Highwood was none. Going to the Sofia Halftime Divot Stomp the network people led by one at 5 – 4. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

Scoring in the fourth was low with just one goal apiece - Alberdi for bensoleimani.com and Sheldon for the Canadians and the lead remained one at 6 -5.

With Highwood having pretty much run dry – counting only one goal since the second - the networkers took over as Usandizaga handled the rest of the scoring. He grabbed a pair in the fifth and another two in the sixth and the 12 Goal Spreckels was decided as bensoleimani.com rebounded from the previous loss and won with a final tally of 10 – 5.

Previous Spreckels winner Chris Maloney was on hand to present the storied trophy - and the traditional red roses - to the winners and as well give the MVP award to Usandizaga. With his ubiquitous play, there was no doubt that he deserved the honor.

Esfinge, owned by Ben Soleimani and played by Usandizaga in the fifth, was selected as the Best Playing Pony.

Tony Gregg

BPP Esfinge, owned by Ben Soleimani, played by Tavi Usandizaga