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April 23, 2006
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Las Monjitas Capture Its First U.S. Open Title

WELLINGTON, FL – The first time was the charm for Las Monjitas as they jumped out to 8-1 lead and coasted past Orchard Hill 12-6 to capture the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach in front of 7,830 spectators. It was Las Monjitas’ first U.S. Open title in their first appearance in the final. It was Orchard Hill’s third U.S. Open final without a title, finishing as runners-up in 2002 and 2001.

Ignacio “Nacho” Novillo Astrada scored six goals to lead Las Monjitas, which came in as the top-seeded team.

Astrada scored the first goal and Orchard Hill’s Jeff Hall tied it on a 30-yard penalty shot but then it was all Las Monjitas all the time. They scored seven consecutive goals to take an 8-1 lead with 2:50 left in the second chukker and controlled play the rest of the game. Orchard Hill cut the margin to 10-6 early in the sixth chukker but Las Monjitas was never in danger.

“It feels incredible,” said Eduardo Novillo Astrada, who scored two goals and was named the Most Valuable Player. “I have now won all three major tournaments and that’s fantastic. Maybe I can get to 10 goals.”

Adam Snow, whose 13-year-old American thoroughbred Amy won they Best Playing Pony award, said Eduardo Novillo Astrada put together a great game plan.

“We knew they (Orchard Hill) got here by being aggressive,” said Snow, who scored three goals. “We knew we had to pressure them and we would get chances. I think that Eduardo’s idea was spot on. We played with attitude and strength and power.”

Snow’s mount, Pumba, won Best Playing Pony honors in 2002 when the Aiken resident was on the winning Coca-Cola team.

“It feels great,” added Snow. “I’m floating up there,” he said, pointing to the sky. “I’d rather be a 9-goaler and play with a team like this, that has a chance to win, rather than be a 10-goaler and not play on a winning team.”

Astrada said the strategy was fairly simple.

“I saw all the teams underestimated Orchard Hill,” said Eduardo Novillo Astrada. “They were playing hard right from the beginning and that’s how they were winning. We gave them a little bit of the same style, only better.”

Camilo Bautista’s Las Monjitas (6-1) beat Mokarow Farms 8-4 in the semifinals and dominated ERG 12-5 in the quarterfinals.

“This is the greatest moment for a polo sponsor,” said Bautista, who scored a goal on a beautiful 40-yard neck shot that gave Las Monjitas a 2-1 lead.

Steve Van Andel’s Orchard Hill (4-3) surprised second-seeded Pony Express 12-10 in the semifinals and eliminated defending champion White Birch 10-9 in the quarterfinals.

“We made it and didn’t convert,” said Van Andel. “But a lot of other teams wanted to be in our place in the final.”