Team USA Men’s Water Polo Claims ASUA Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, November 5. KNOWING it was guaranteed a medal, Team USA was hungry for gold and not silver at the 2006 ASUA Cup in Rio de Janeiro. Standing in their way was Canada, who they had beaten earlier in the tournament. Today was no different. Team USA out-lasted Canada in the championship game, 9-7. Only allowing 21 goals in five games, the U.S. was all smiles on the podium Sunday, November 5. Ryan Bailey was named the tournament's most outstanding player, while teammate Merrill Moses was given the tournament's most outstanding goalie trophy.

"We came down here to accomplish a goal and we did that," said USA Head Coach Ricardo Azevedo. "We were able take home the gold medal and qualify first out of the America's for World Championships."

Leading the way in the title game for the US was Thomas Hopkins with three goals. Teammates Kevin Witt and Layne Beaubien each added two goals for the U.S. score card. Moses was a key factor on defense for the U.S. recording 13 saves and three steals.

The game was tight in the early going, with U.S. leading, 4-3 at half-time. A back-and-forth match followed in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter where in the first few minutes, teams traded goals, but USA was too strong defensively down the stretch.

"I am proud of the young players on our team to come here and play well and win," said Azevedo. "I'm even prouder of our veteran players to be able to take control of the team and the games and step up and do what we needed to do."

SCORE BY QUARTER:
USA 2 2 3 2 – 9
CAN 2 1 1 3 – 7

SCORING FOR USA:
Witt – 2
Bailey – 1
Hopkins – 3
Beaubien – 2
Dornin – 1

SCORING FOR CAN:
Mitchell – 2
Marks – 1
Feltham – 2
Miller, Noha – 1
Miller, Nathaniel – 1

SAVES:
USA – M. Moses 13
CAN – Randall 7

6 on 5's
USA – 2 FOR 5 / 1 FOR 1 ON 5M
CAN – 2 FOR 6

AWARDS:
Most Outstanding Goalie – Merril Moses
Most Outstanding Player – Ryan Bailey

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