University of Virginia Library

Riders Place Second

By Mark Pirrung
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Virginia polo lost in the
finals of the national
Intercollegiate Tournament in
Darien, Conn. last Saturday
by one goal, ranking them
number two in the nation for
collegiate polo.

The Virginia squad lost to
Yale in the last seconds of one
of the closest finals of
Intercollegiate Tournaments by
a score of 12-11. For Yale this
was the fifth straight victory in
Darien, which is the longest
stint in the Tournament's
history.

Reid Graham from Darien
playing number two for
Virginia, led the scoring in the

match with an impressive seven
goals. He was cheered on by
many home town fans in the
sell out crowd. Alan Harris team
captain (rated at three goals) led
the scoring for Yale from his
number two position.

Virginia outplayed the Yale
squad in the first half as was seen in
every way other than the score.
Although Virginia held significant
leads in the early part of the first
two chukkas, the score was 3-3
after the first and 6-6 after the
second periods.

In the third chukka Reid
Graham scored two incredible
shots, one from three quarters of
the arena and another banked from
the boards at half field. However,
the Virginians loosened their grip on
the Elis and lost two more goals
before the bell sounded the end of
the third chukka.

With every fan on his feet the
referee threw in the ball for the
final chukka. Team captain Dave
Banks scored first; then the two
teams traded goals as fans and
announcer alike grew hoarse.

Tension mounted until the score
was 11-11 with half a minute
remained in the game. There was a
melee in front of the Yale goal
which was cleared out by Alan
Harris down toward the Virginia
end. Another melee in which all
players rode over the ball, but Reid
Oppenheimer, rated I playing one
for Yale stopped a offside back shot
into the goal as the bell was ringing.

Virginia had been given one bye
and had defeated the University of
Connecticut in the semi-finals on
Thursday night, 13-12. Yale had
knocked out Harvard in the
quarters and Cornell in the semis.

Ray Norden who played three
for Virginia scored twice, and was
raised to two goals indoors in the
latest ratings. Jim Vlassic and Peter
Ambrosex traded off at three for
Yale and scored two apiece.