Even with a whole new line-up, ERG was able to defend its title in Santa Barbara's Pacific Coast Open, the grand finale of the club's 20-goal season. The final was a rematch of last year as ERG once again faced Lucchese. John Muse's team also had a new roster of players, but Agustin and Sebastian Merlos stole the show, combining for all 12 goals to take the title. It was the second win of the season for ERG, at the hands of the 9-goal brothers.

The 20-goal season starts on July 2 with the El Encanto Cup. This cup overlaps with the English polo season so not all 20-goal teams compete in it. The final was held on July 13, with Farmers & Merchants Bank defending its title over a Santa Barbara team.

In that match, 8-goaler Lucas Criado scored first, added to a handicap goal but Santa Barbara's 7-goal Jeff Hall answered back with a pair of goals to keep it even. Criado scored twice added to a goal from Inaki Laprida, but Tete Grahn and Hall replied for Santa Barbara. In the third, Criado matched a pair of goals by Nacho Badiola and another from Grahn to keep FMB ahead 8-7 at the half. Santa Barbara was silenced in the fourth while Criado increased FMB's lead to three. Danny Walker and Laprida scored in the fifth, but Hall and Tommy Collingwood together sank three goals to cut the deficit to two, 12-10. Hall and Walker traded goals in the final period keeping FMB ahead when the final bell rang and giving the team the title for the second straight year.

Lucas Criado was named MVP and his horse Bandana took the Best Playing Pony blanket.

Next up was the USPA Nespresso America Cup. FMB carried its momentum into that event as it won all its matches except one, a high-scoring match against ERG, a team that went undefeated and eventually met FMB again in the final.

In the final match FMB knew it would be a tough battle against the Merlos brothers, especially with Agustin Merlos averaging 11 goals a match. And it was.

While FMB's Inaki Laprida scored the first goal, added to a handicap goal, Sebastian and Agustin combined for four goals in a matter of minutes. Lucas Criado knocked in a Penalty 2 to keep FMB within one, 4-3. The Merlos brothers repeated their efforts in the second while holding Criado to a Penalty 4 conversion. FMB kept pace in the third period, with each team scoring twice, ending the half with ERG comfortably ahead 10-6.

The second half didn't slow down the ERG steamroller. The Merlos brothers combined for five goals in the fourth, all which went unanswered. Remy Muller and Agustin Merlos scored early in the fifth to give ERG a 17-6 advantage. FMB kept fighting and Laprida managed to reach the goal. Agustin Merlos added two more goals in the final period. FMB received two open-goal opportunities from the 30-yard line, which it converted, to end the match trailing 19-9.

Agustin Merlos beat his average with 14 goals scored. He was named MVP while Sebastian Merlos' Gori Patagonia was Best Playing Pony.

Play continued with the USPA Lucchese Silver Cup. John Muse's Lucchese team was finding its stride and managed to hand ERG its first defeat, 13-12, in its opening game. It went to the final without a loss, meeting up again with ERG, who finished with a 2-1 record.

In the final, Agustin Merlos struck first but a Penalty 2 conversion by Sapo Caset and a goal by Jeff Hall gave Lucchese an early lead. When Sebastian Merlos was given a red flag, it was evident this would be an intense match. Sebastian Merlos tied the score in the second, but Hall and Caset struck again, doubling ERG's score, 4-2.

The Merlos brothers applied more pressure, with Agustin scoring the next three goals in as many minutes. Sebastian followed with a goal before the dust settled. Caset, who received a red flag during the period, lobbed in a safety, then converted a Penalty 2 to tie the score at 6, but Agustin got in the last word with a Penalty 2 conversion at the end of the half. ERG held the narrow 7- 6 lead.

Remy Muller increased ERG's lead early in the fourth, but Caset tied the score and took the lead when he converted a pair of Penalty 4s and scored from the field. With tension still high, Sebastian received his second red flag. Agustin knotted it back up with his own penalty conversion before the chukker ended.

Agustin scored a Penalty 2, but Caset negated it with a field goal. Lucchese continued to make costly mistakes, allowing Agustin two more Penalty 2 opportunities, which he capitalized on. He also scored on a drive downfield to give ERG a 13-10 lead going into the sixth period.

It looked like ERG would likely take home the trophies when Sebastian scored early in the sixth, but Caset wasn't buying it. He kept his head down and went to work. He scored two in a row before Jeff Hall chimed in with a goal. With time ticking away and just a goal separating the teams, ERG was whistled on a play. The umpires dropped the ball for a Penalty 2 in Lucchese's favor. Caset delivered, forcing sudden death overtime.

After several missed attempts by ERG, it was Caset who found the goal with a neckshot, giving Lucchese a much deserved win. After scoring a dozen goals, Caset was named MVP and his mare Estampilla was given Best Playing Pony honors.

The two teams met once again in the opening game of the Bombardier Pacific Coast Open. Any thoughts that ERG might be running out of steam were quelled when it ran away with the match 17-11. The teams went on to win their remaining matches and met again in the final on August 31.

ERG's Scott Wood was unable to play due to illness so he was replaced by Kerstie Allen. The game got underway with Agustin and Sebastian scoring for ERG, but Caset answered back with a Penalty 4 conversion, a field goal and a Penalty 2 conversion. He missed on Penalty 3s in both the first and second. Meanwhile, Sebastian split the uprights in the second to briefly tie the score but Caset scored a Penalty 2 and Jeff Hall scored from the field to put Lucchese up 5-3. The battle was just beginning and by the end of the second period the umpires had given red flags to Caset, Agustin and Sebastian.

Agustin and Sebastian soon turned the tables, again dominating the third period, combining for six goals while holding Caset to one. ERG was suddenly ahead 9-6 heading into the half.

Lucchese kept its focus after the half and a Penalty 4 from Caset and a field goal by Tommy Collingwood brought Lucchese within one, 8-7. The fifth period had Agustin wrapping goals around a Caset Penalty 4 to put ERG up by two heading into the sixth. Another Penalty 4 opportunity for Lucchese went wide. But Caset expertly sank the next Penalty 4 he was given to close the gap to one, 11-10. With just over a minute remaining, Sebastian Merlos secured the ERG victory with his fifth goal.

Caset was high scorer of the match with eight goals, including six from the penalty line. Sebastian Merlos was named MVP, while Caset's horse Noche won Best Playing Pony. Sapo Caset also received the Skene Most Valuable Player of the Season award, presented by Elizabeth Skene.

The previous day, FMB defeated Wildcat 8-7 in the PCO consolation Western Badge and Trophy Challenge on August 30.

By Gwen Rizzo • Photos by Kim Kumpart