Teen plays crucial role in SD Farms’ upset win

WELLINGTON — Teenager Nico Escobar got the call to substitute for team sponsor Sayyu Dantata of SD Farms less than 24 hours before Sunday’s Ylvisaker Cup game against Audi.

Escobar, 17, a junior at Palm Beach International Academy making his second Ylvisaker Cup 20-goal tournament appearance in two years, played a key role in SD Farms’ 11-10 overtime upset of Audi.

“I was pretty excited,” said Escobar, who subbed for Orchard Hill last season. “I look at it as a learning step and huge opportunity. I walk away with experience and a better way of looking at the game.”

Inaki Laprida converted a 40-yard penalty shot with 5:52 left in overtime to clinch the win. Laprida finished with a team-high five goals.

“I knew he was going to make it,” Escobar said. “It’s a huge win. It could have been anybody’s game.”

Laprida and Escobar played well together with teammates Adam Snow, a former 10-goaler, and Peco Polledo.

“We only found out yesterday that Sayyu couldn’t make it because of a death in the family in Nigeria,” Snow said. “I know how good Nico is because I played against him all summer in California. It was easy for him to fit in. Without any practice or knowing our system, we didn’t play our best but found a way to win it.

“I feel like we are playing well and on the right day hopefully we can play with any team,” added Snow, who was making his first 20-goal appearance since 2013.

Audi led 9-7 going into the final chukker and looked to be in control before SD Farms outscored it 3-1 with goals from Laprida, Escobar and Polledo to send the game into overtime.

For Escobar, it was bittersweet facing Grant Ganzi, 19, a sophomore at Lynn University. They grew up together playing junior tournaments and now are making their mark in high-goal polo.

Polledo added three goals and Snow had two. Nic Roldan led Audi with six goals, including three penalty shots. Father and son Marc and Grant Ganzi each had one goal. The team was also awarded two automatic penalty-one goals.

Argentine 8-goaler Nico Pieres, who returned this week from Argentina after the birth of his first daughter, Begonia, was held scoreless and issued a yellow card.

In the other Sunday game, Colorado defeated Prestige Worldwide 12-8. In an anemic offensive showing, Prestige Worldwide was 4 of 12 in field shots and Colorado was 8 of 13 in field shots and 4 of 8 in penalty conversions.

Juan Britos was most valuable player. Quiniela, played by Cavanagh and owned by J5 Equestrian, was named best playing pony.

Diego Cavanagh led Colorado with eight goals. Santino Magrini added three goals.

Prestige Worldwide’s Juan Martin Obregon substituted for Carlucho Arellano, who was injured in a fall Sunday morning. His older brother, Julio Arellano, a Cardinal Newman and Florida Atlantic alum, broke his hand and sustained facial lacerations and bruised ribs last week while playing for Coca-Cola and is expected to be sidelined for the season.

The 13-team tournament continues Wednesday with three games: SD Farms vs. Carillon Miami Beach, 10 a.m.; Pilot vs. Colorado, 12:30 p.m.; and Prestige Worldwide vs. La Indiana.