USA Men’s Water Polo National Team Tops Canada 8-6 To Sweep FINA World League Prelims

COSTA MESA, California, May 15. THE USA Men's National Team made it a clean sweep at the FINA World League Prelims as they defeated Canada 8-6 to close out the two game set earlier today at Costa Mesa High School. Behind three goals from Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) and 11 saves from Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC) Team USA again used a strong second half to defeat Canada.

Much like Friday evening it was Canada striking first as they tallied a score just a minute into the match to go up 1-0. That was short lived as the United States drew a five meter penalty which was converted by Brian Alexander (Santa Ana, CA/UCSB/Olympic Club) for a tie match at 1-1. With less than a minute left in the period Team USA took their first lead when Bailey scored off a dish from Jeff Tyrrell (Granite Bay,CA/California/NYAC) for a 2-1 advantage going to the second period.

The United States kept it going in the second quarter when JW Krumpholz (Santa Ana, CA/USC/NYAC) found Tommy Corcoran (Coronado, CA/USC/Olympic Club) right in front of the cage for a 3-1 lead. Krumpholz came calling again moments later drawing a five meter penalty which was converted by Tyrrell for a 4-1 advantage. Canada would use the rest of the quarter to rally, scoring on consecutive power plays to draw within a score at 4-3 going into intermission.

Undaunted the United States stormed out of the gates in the second half as some great passing was on display when Peter Varellas (Moraga, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) spotted Bailey on the doorstep for an easy put away and a 5-3 lead. Canada returned the favor with a lob shot score less than thirty seconds later for a 5-4 USA lead at the 4:08 mark. After missing a five meter penalty shot at the 3:47 mark Team USA came right back on a counter attack power play goal when Michael Sharf (Orinda, CA/California/Olympic Club) ripped the net for a 6-4 lead. Canada had one more rally up their sleeve and used the final three minutes of the quarter to climb back into the match scoring consecutive goals on power play opportunities to tie the game up at 6-6 as play moved to the fourth quarter.

Once again the fourth quarter belonged to Team USA. Less than 90 seconds into the period Bailey tacked on his third goal of the day for a 7-6 lead, an advantage the United States would not relinquish. Some three minutes later a six-on-five advantage for the United States resulted in Alexander burying his second score of the game for an 8-6 USA lead. Canada had two more cracks at the cage in the waning moments but those possessions resulted in turnovers and the United States came away winners at 8-6.

Canada went 4/10 on power plays while Team USA went 4/8 on power plays and 2/3 on penalty shots. Next up for the United States will be the FINA World League Prelims scheduled for June in Italy. Earlier in the day the Men's Junior National Team defeated the Bruin Club 9-7.

Scoring

USA 8 (2, 2, 2, 2) R. Bailey 3, B. Alexander 2, T. Corcoran 1, J. Tyrrell 1, M. Sharf 1
CAN 6 (1, 2, 3, 0)

Saves – USA – M. Moses 11
6×5 – USA 4/8 – CAN 4/10
Penalties – USA – 2/3

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