LA SALLE PROPERTIES - Robert Gray, Luis Saracco, Topo Mendez, Micaela Saracco

The final game of the USPA Fish Creek Constitution Cup featured Bob Gray’s La Salle Properties (Bob Gray -.5, Luis Saracco 3, Santiago Mendez 1.5, Micaela Saracco -.5) and Nicolas Nierenberg and Kim Kelly’s Persyst/K2 partnership (Nicolas Nierenberg -1, Kim Kelly, Tim Rudy 3, Dayelle Fargey 1.5) in a game that unexpectedly turned out to be somewhat one sided.

From the start, play was more or less stifled courtesy good defensive play by both. Saracco scored the only goal of the opener to take a one goal lead to the second, favoring La Salle.

With a strong effort on a penalty four chance, Saracco put La Salle up by a pair in the early second. Persyst/K2 came back and sustained forward pressure allowed Fargey to convert a 30 yard free hit. The developers weren’t about to bend however as they mounted sustained pressure of their own and Saracco counted his third goal on a 30 yard penalty award. Mendez, playing a strong and forceful game on the inside, scored from the field to give La Salle a lead of three going to the half at 4 – 1.

Early in the third, Rudy brought Persyst/K2 to within a pair on what was probably the best ‘polo play’ of the game. Kelly, in a great ride-off, stopped a La Salle push 30 yards on the other side of center, Fargey sent a perfectly placed tail-shot to a turned and running Rudy at center and he went unopposed to score. Obviously unfazed by the text book play, La Salle opened up and scored three field goals – Saracco with two and Mendez a single. One of Saracco’s was a spectacular neck shot from 55 yards right and 30 yards off the back line. The tally now favored the developers by five at 7 – 2.

In the fourth and final, the lead became five courtesy Saracco’s second penalty four conversion. Fargey was able to count one in reply but that was it and La Salle Properties had won the 2021 USPA Fish Creek Constitution Cup 4 Goal Championship by a final score of 8 – 3.

Traditionally, the winners were presented with the much cherished Richard Roenisch Bronzes.

With six goals on the day, Saracco was given the title of MVP and his mare Lady, played in the third, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.

Tony Gregg