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The Matchup & Lineups
This was a historic, youth-dominated 52nd USPA Gold Cup Championship Final at the USPA National Polo Center between two undefeated teams: La Dolfina Scone and Team Pilot. Five of the eight players on the field were under 25, including a highly anticipated matchup between 10-goal first cousins, Poroto Cambiaso and Camilo "Heta" Castagnola.
| Team | Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | Position 4 (Captain) |
| Scone (Red) | David Paradice | Rufino Merlos (6) | Jesse Bray (7) | Poroto Cambiaso (10) |
| Pilot (White) | Curtis Pilot | MacKenzie "Mackey" Weisz (6) | Lorenzo Chavanne (5) | Camilo "Heta" Castagnola (10) |
Chukker 1: Early Fireworks & Striking Back
The Opening Throw-in: The game started at a blistering pace with Heta Castagnola and Poroto Cambiaso immediately battling at the line. Heta got an early looks, missing a spectacular 60-yard neck shot by just a couple of feet due to the 10 mph crosswinds.
Pilot Strikes First (1-0): Pilot showed intense early aggression. After Jesse Bray lost the ball along the boards, Heta connected with the 18-year-old Lorenzo Chavanne on his chestnut mare, Oriental United. Chavanne found open space and converted from the field for his 35th goal of the tournament.
The Counter-Attack (1-1): Scone answered quickly. Chavanne took one touch too many in front of his own posts; Poroto pounced on the mistake, executed a clean steal, and tapped it through on his first touch.
Scone Takes the Lead (2-1): Scone was awarded a 30-yard penalty. Poroto teed it up, circled right, and comfortably converted undefended to put Scone ahead.
Chukker 2: Pilot's Near Misses & Merlos' Momentum
Field Dynamics: Pilot struggled with accuracy, peppering the goal but continually missing by inches. Mackey Weisz narrowly missed a lofted 130-yard drive. Later, Chavanne hit a brilliant 95-yard flyer that struck the post and bounced out due to a bad divot or wind gust.
Scone Extends the Lead (3-1): Rufino Merlos showed off his classic family DNA (son of Pincho Merlos). He carried the ball under heavy defensive pressure, escaping a hook, and hit a clever scoop shot that trickled over the line just as his pony crossed over the ball.
Center Hit Pressure: Following a Penalty 1 call, Poroto took a free hit from center field. Heta immediately marked his cousin one-on-one to neutralize the threat, winning the ball back with a backhand after Poroto was forced into a double team.
End of the Chukker: Jesse Bray mounted a heavy attack for Scone on the right side, but the ball was deflected off Chavanne’s pony for a knock-in. Chavanne and Heta had one last late-chukker run, but Heta's shot missed just outside the flags.
Chukker 3: Defensive Mastery & Scone Control
The Scone Chemistry: The established chemistry between Poroto, Bray, and Merlos dominated the early part of the chukker with smooth give-and-go passing.
Penalty Conversion (4-1): Scone drew a right-of-way violation. Poroto left the 30-yard penalty hit for the young Rufino Merlos, who converted with a smooth, easy swing to put Scone up by three.
Pony Agility on Display: Pilot tried to claw back. Weisz attempted to generate an offensive play, but Poroto's defensive closing speed was too quick, forcing a turnover without fouling. Immediately following, Heta showed elite horsemanship on Dolfina Garland—stopping on a dime, swiveling 90 degrees, and bursting into space away from Merlos to create a scoring opportunity, though his final neck shot rolled just wide.
Halftime Score: La Dolfina Scone 4, Team Pilot 1
Key Takeaway: While Pilot matched Scone in field presence and scoring opportunities, Scone proved far more clinical. Pilot was plagued by costly near-misses and a critical turnover, while Scone capitalized heavily on penalties and elite defensive transitions led by Poroto.
