Unionville Wins 2003 Wendland Memorial
The Finalists in the 2003 Jan E. Wendland Memorial: Winners Unionville
in red: Crosby Wood, Eric Zandotti, Nancy Davidson, and K.C. Kulp;
Runners-up Aiken in green: Robert Orthwein, Bill Matheson, Lou Lopez, and
LJ Lopez (with team mascot Sidney)
.
Unionville, with Nancy Davidson at #1, Eric Zandotti at #2, Crosby Wood
at #3, and K.C. Kulp at Back, tried a bit of gamesmanship by wearing numbers
that did not correspond with their positions (see picture), but the wily
veterans of the Aiken team were not easily fooled. In the end, it was the
superior play of the Pennsylvania foursome that carried the day, as Aiken
tried several different lineups to counteract their opponents' tactics. Unionville
had a strong first half, building a 5-1 lead before Aiken scored their second
goal just before half-time. Aiken tried to come back in the second half,
but could only get within one goal with less than 30 seconds remaining, and
time ran out on them.
For Unionville, Nancy Davidson played a solid #1, holding her position
and forcing the Aiken players to chase her down on repeated breakaways.
Eric Zandotti, who organized the club in June of this year, played an aggressive
#2, showing great speed and harassing Aiken's #3, Bill Matheson, throughout
most of the game. Crosby Wood, who had played a good bit of equestrian polo
as a teenager, seemed to be everywhere, beating Aiken's forwards to the ball
and sending accurate passes to Davidson and Zandotti. K.C. Kulp was equally
impressive at Back, allowing Aiken only one breakaway and seemingly never
missing the ball.
The progress of the Unionville players has been remarkable, since Aiken
had beaten them soundly in September on Unionville's home field. They have
developed a keen rivalry with the Mt. Washington club in Baltimore, and hope
to do likewise with the newly formed Charlottesville club. Having defeated
a team that included three members of the previous year's winning squad, Unionville's
players are looking forward to defending their title next year.
Past Winners of the Jan E. Wendland Memorial
1995: Aiken
Chris Griffin
John Weatherford
Bill Matheson
George Handy
1996: Palm Beach
Jim Tolbert
Tiger Kneece
Adam Snow
2000: Aiken Prep
Bobby Buckley
Kit Buckley
Zak Smith
Justin Pimsner
2001: Aiken Prep
Jon Ellis
Taylor Freeman
Henri DuToit
Seth Kopald
2002: Boxwood
Mathew R. Lopez
Louis J. Lopez, Jr.
William L. Matheson, Jr.
Louis J. Lopez III
Gaither Limehouse