WELLINGTON, FL., March 3, 2025---Casablanca won its first game of the USPA 12-Goal Bronze Cup Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
In a hotly contested game, Casablanca (Benji Daniels, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Juan Bollini Sr., 3) rallied in the sixth chukker to defeat Los Machitos (Larry Austin, 0, Antonio Aguerre, 2, Torito Ruiz, 7, Martin Velez Suarez, 2), 11-9.
Casablanca jumped out quickly in the opening chukker behind back-to-back goals from Daniels, one an open backhand and the other a quick goal run off the bowl-in. Jauregui then converted a 30-yard penalty and Santos Bollini scored for a 4-1 lead. Los Machitos picked up one goal on handicap.
Los Machitos shut out Casablanca, 2-0, in the second chukker with a 30-yard penalty conversion from Ruiz and Velez goal from the field with 3:57 left to cut the lead, 4-3.
Casablanca regained control of the third chukker. Early in the chukker Jauregui lofted a long goal with 7:18 left to lead 5-3. Ruiz 30-yard penalty conversion cut the lead to 5-4 with 4:32 left. Three minutes later, Jauregui lofted another long goal between the posts for a 6-4 advantage. With 21 seconds until the half, Suarez picked up a loose ball and scored on a forehand behind his back to trail, 6-5.
Casablanca shut out Los Machitos, 1-0, in the fourth quarter with Jauregui scoring a 30-yard penalty conversion for a 7-5 lead.
Los Machitos bounced back with a big fifth chukker, outscoring Casablanca, 4-1, to lead 9-8 at the end of the chukker.
Casablanca came back in the sixth chukker, outscoring Los Machitos, 3-0. Jauregui tied the game, 9-9, with 4:14 left scoring on a 40-yard penalty conversion. Daniels gave Casablanca a 10-9 lead, again quickly scoring off a throw-in. With 1:04 left, Jauregui converted another penalty when Los Machitos was penalized for knocking in early before a Casablanca player had returned to the field.
Casablanca evened its record to 1-1. Los Machitos remains winless at 0-3. Casablanca outshot Los Machitos, 17-14. Each team had six knock-ins. Casablanca won 15 throw-ins and Los Machitos six. Casablanca led in fouls, 13-11.
Jauregui scored a game-high six goals, Daniels had four and Santos Bollini added one. For Los Machitos, Ruiz led with four goals including three penalty conversions, Suarez had three and Aguerre had one goal.
Action continues Tuesday with the battle of the unbeatens when 1-0 Globalport (Mikee Romero, 0, Lucas Alberdi, 6, Jack Whitman, 2, Anthony Garcia, 4) plays 2-0 Quite on Z (Alecia Seidler, -1, Artemio Figueras, 2, Joaquin Panelo, 6, Hilario Figueras, 5). Quite On Z is 2-0 and Globalport is 1-0.
It is the first time Grand Champions, the nation's largest club, is hosting the USPA Bronze Trophy 12 Goal Tournament.
Last year's winner was Maharlika (Gina Padilla, 0, Miguel (Miki) Astrada Jr., 2, Santino Magrini, 4, Matias Magrini, 6) who defeated Los Altos (Alvaro Fernandez, 0, Keko Magrini, 6, Memo Gracida, 3, Luis Saraco, 3), 13-9, at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Established in 1980, the Bronze Trophy is a prestigious national tournament played at the 8- to 12-goal level. Originally hosted at Gulfstream Polo Club (now defunct) in Lake Worth until its closure, the tournament relocated in 2015 to New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, S.C.