Italy Tops USA Men’s Water Polo 10-4 To Open FINA World League Super Final

FLORENCE, Italy, June 22. THE USA Men's National Team opened the FINA World League Super Final with a 10-4 loss at the hands of Italy. Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) led the offensive attack with two goals for the United States in the loss. Team USA is back in action tomorrow when they take on China in group play action.

Italy got things started early with a goal just 70 seconds into the match for a 1-0 lead. The United States would rebound minutes later when Powers scored his first of the match with 5:21 remaining in the period. The rest of the quarter belonged to the Italians as they posted two more goals for a 3-1 lead going into the second quarter. In the second period it was more of the same with Italy adding on two more goals and keeping the United States scoreless for a 5-1 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter the host country kept up the attack scoring three more goals in succession to build up an 8-1 lead. Peter Hudnut (Encino, CA/Stanford/LA Water Polo) stopped the bleeding for the United States scoring with 1:03 left in the third to draw within 8-2. In the final period Team USA looked to rally but there was not enough time to be had on this day. After Italy went up early in the period 9-2, Powers came back with his second goal of the day for a 9-3 game and then Brian Alexander (Santa Ana, CA/UCSB/Olympic Club) found the cage and it was a 9-4 contest. The Italians would have the final word adding on one last goal to go up 10-4 and come away the victors.

Scoring:

USA 4 (1, 0, 1, 2) J. Powers 2, P. Hudnut, B. Alexander
ITA 10 (3, 2, 3, 2)

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