USA Men Fall 8-6, Women Win 14-11 in Series Against Australia

Photo Courtesy: Joon Baik

Water polo action in California between Team USA and Australia continued this weekend. In televised matches, the men fell to Australia while the women came out on top.

Men’s Match

Los Angeles, CA – May 22 – As a national television audience tuned in on the NBC Sports Network, the house was packed to watch Team USA and Australia square off for pre-Olympic prep work at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center. In the opening matchup between the U.S. and Aussie men, Australia was able to fend off Team USA down the stretch for an 8-6 victory. Luca Cupido (Newport Beach, CA/California/Newport) scored two goals in the loss while Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC) and McQuin Baron (North Tustin, CA/USC/Regency) combined for nine saves in net.

Helped by a hat trick apiece from Joel Campbell and Joe Kayes, the Aussies also leaned on some stingy defense that turned away 11 U.S. power play opportunities. Australia jumped out ahead 2-0 while shutting out the Americans through the first eight minutes of action. That two-goal margin would prove crucial for the visitors, as Team USA was unable to carve down the deficit to more than a single goal. A sizzling skipper from Cupido — his first of two goals on the day — tugged the USA to within one at halftime, trailing 3-2. The defensive first half was thanks in part to strong stands in the cage by goalies on each end. Moses collected six saves in his 16 minutes of work, while Australia’s Joel Dennerley knocked down five in the first half.

After a flurry of goals in the third period of play, both teams’ second-half goalies made a stand in the fourth as Australia’s James Clark and USA’s Baron traded big stops. The Aussie defense would shut down a U.S. 6-on-4 chance, followed by a blast from distance by Australia’s Joel Campbell to take the visitors back ahead by two, up 7-5 with 2:51 to go. At 1:25, Australia’s Lachlan Edwards ripped in a backhand strike to tug the Aussies to their largest lead of the game. With 1:10 remaining, USA’s Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC) delivered to get the hosts back within two, but that would be as close as Team USA would get thanks to two more saves from Clark on the last possession of the game.

Team USA went 1/12 on power plays while Australia was 2/4 on power plays with neither side attempting a penalty shot.

Australia 8, USA 6
May 22, 2016 – Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
AUS 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 = 8

SCORING:
USA — Luca Cupido 2, John Mann, Tony Azevedo, Nikola Vavic, Alex Bowen.
AUS — Joe Kayes 3, Joel Campbell 3, Nathan Power, Lachlan Edwards.

SAVES:
USA — Merrill Moses 6, McQuin Baron 3.
AUS — Joel Dennerley 5, James Clark 6.

POWER PLAYS:
USA — 1 / 12
ASU — 2 / 4

PENALTY SHOTS:
USA — 0 / 0
ASU — 0 / 0

Women’s Match

Los Angeles, CA – May 22 – The U.S. and Australian women put their offensive abilities on full display at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center today, heating up for a combined 25 goals in a pre-Olympic showcase in a match televised live on NBC Sports Network. Team USA would boast the hotter hand on the day, however, getting eight different scorers in on the action for a 14-11 win over Australia. USA’s Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) pinned up three goals to pace her squad, while Australia’s Rowie Webster matched that count with three for the Aussies. Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) recorded 11 saves in the win.

Australia carved what was once a four-goal USA lead down to a two-goal margin on two occasions in the second half of play, but Team USA had a response each time. Maggie Steffens converted a 5-meter penalty shot to scoot the United States ahead 13-10 late in the third. Then, after Australia’s Hannah Buckling cut it to 13-11 early in the fourth, USA’s Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) delivered a punishing crosscage strike to take Team USA ahead 14-11.

The United States had Johnson go the distance in the cage, and the rangy goalie would anchor the U.S. defense. Two big stops by Johnson in the final couple minutes would help Team USA keep the Aussies at bay to finish out the 14-11 victory.

Team USA went 7/10 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Australia went 5/10 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.

The series resumes for these two teams on Tuesday evening at Fresno State in Fresno, CA. The match will start at 6pm. Tickets are available online and live webcast will be provided. The series will conclude on Thursday evening at Beckman High School in Irvine, CA at 7pm. Tickets for this match are also available. To purchase tickets and for more information on the series, click here.

USA vs. Australia
May 22, 2016 – Uytengsu Aquatics Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
USA 5 – 5 – 3 – 1 = 14
AUS 4 – 3 – 3 – 1 = 11

SCORING:
USA — Makenzie Fischer 3, Rachel Fattal 2, Maggie Steffens 2, Kaleigh Gilchrist 2, Courtney Mathewson 2, Maddie Musselman, Aria Fischer, KK Clark.
AUS — Rowie Webster 3, Ash Southern 2, Zoe Arancini 2, Hannah Buckling 2, Glencora McGhie, Isobel Bishop

SAVES:
USA — Ashleigh Johnson 11
AUS — Kelsey Wakefield 0, Lea Yantisas 7.

POWER PLAYS:
USA — 7 / 10
ASU — 5 / 10
PENALTY SHOTS: USA — 1 / 1 ASU — 1 / 1

USA Water Polo contributed this report.

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