Prisa Invitational Finals

Roldan leads Paladin to win in Prisa Invitational finals

Nic Roldan scored five goals to carry Paladin to an 11-8 win in the Prisa Invitational, his

last competition in the United States before boarding a plane bound for China where he

will compete with the US team in the 24-goal Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup.

One of the top players in the country today Roldan led Paladin (David Krantz, Leo

Mandelbaum, Nic Roldan and Juan Bollini) against his former USA teammate, Marc

Ganzi and the Newport lineup (Gene Goldstein, Guille Aguero, Luis Escobar and Marc

Ganzi) in the 16-goal tournament that kicks off the fall season for the Grand Champions

Polo Club.

Newport received one goal by handicap from Paladin in a slow starting opening chukker

that witnessed a single goal being scored by Nic Roldan. The chukker ended with the

teams all even at 1-1.

Paladin flexed their muscles in the second chukker as they put up four unanswered

goals while Newport fought to establish an effective offensive threat. Roldan opened

the chukker with a goal from the field followed by goals from Leo Mandelbaum and Juan

Bollini, 4-1. A second goal from Mandelbaum ended the chukker with Paladin in front

by four goals, 5-1.

Newport finally got on track in the third with each member of the team scoring a goal to

knot it up at 5-5, while a disciplined defense kept Paladin off of the scoreboard for the

first time on the day. Marc Ganzi opened the scoring by converting a 40-yard penalty

shot followed by single goals from teammates Luis Escobar, Guille Aguero and Gene

Goldstein. The first half ended in a 5-5 tie.

Paladin returned to form in the fourth chukker. Mandelbaum scored his third goal

of the game while Roldan scored one goal from the field and the other on a penalty

conversion. Newport was unable to get on the scoreboard, and fell behind 8-5.

Roldan and Escobar exchanged goals to open the fifth chukker, 9-6. Mandelbaum

scored his fourth goal on the day and David Krantz converted a penalty shot to give

Paladin a commanding five goal, 11-5 lead with one chukker left to play.

Newport attempted to stage a rally while Paladin was content to slow down the pace of

the game and turn aside any offensive thrusts. Ganzi scored Newport’s only goals in

the sixth with a goal from the field and a penalty conversion for a score. The final horn

sounded, however, with Paladin taking the 11-8 win.

Roldan’s registered five goals for Paladin. Mandelbaum scored four times and Krantz

and Bollini added single goals. Ganzi’s three goals set the pace for Newport. Escobar

was credited with two goals. Goldstein and Aguero each scored a goal in a losing

effort.