Italy (men) and Greece (women) crowned World Youth Champions in Perth (AUS)

Italy (men) and Greece (women) crowned World Youth Champions in Perth (AUS)

 
Lausanne (SUI), December 9, 2012 – The nine-day competition featuring 34 (15 women’s and 19 men’s) water polo teams concluded on a high note at Perth’s Challenge Stadium, Western Australia, with Italy and Greece crowned as new World Youth Champions for men and women, respectively.
 
In the men’s competition, Italy was too strong for Hungary (10-8) in the final match taking place on Sunday December 9. The battle for the minor medal played out between Croatia and Serbia, with the Serbian squad winning by a one-goal advantage (8-7) in front of a cheering crowd.  
 
Among women, Greece imposed a crushing victory over Hungary (9-5) while Russia edged USA by one goal (13-12) for the bronze.
 
Russia’s Elvina Karimova was named the Most Valuable Player and was also the highest goal-scorer of the women’s tournament with 38 goals. The men’s Most Valuable Player was Toni Nemet (HUN) and the highest goal-scorer was Kirill Rustamov (UZB) with 37 goals.
 
 
Final Ranking Women
 
1. GREECE
2. HUNGARY
3. RUSSIA
4. USA; 5. CANADA; 6. NEW ZEALAND; 7. AUSTRALIA; 8. BRAZIL; 9. ITALY; 10. CZECH REPUBLIC; 11. SOUTH AFRICA; 12. UZBEKISTAN; 13. INDONESIA; 14. ZIMBABWE; 15. INDIA
 
Final Ranking Men
 
1. ITALY
2. HUNGARY
3. SERBIA
4. CROATIA; 5. GREECE; 6. ROMANIA; 7. AUSTRALIA; 8. USA; 9. BRAZIL; 10. NEW ZEALAND; 11. CANADA; 12. IRAN; 13. UZBEKISTAN; 14. EGYPT; 15. COLOMBIA; 16. KAZAKHSTAN; 17. SOUTH AFRICA; 18. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; 19. PERU
 
 
USA Men Take Eighth Place At FINA Youth Worlds Following 5-4 Loss To Australia
Perth, Australia - December 9 - Australia has held off a late fight back from the United States of America to claim seventh position at the tournament with a nail-biting 5-4 win on Day 9 at Challenge Stadium.
 
It was a tight opening term with neither team able to gain the ascendancy. Goalkeepers Anthony Hrysanthos (AUS) and Garrett Danner (USA) stood tall as they combined with their center backs to reduce the flow of goals.
 
Ciaran Wolohan (AUS) finally opening the scoring at the two minute mark, courtesy of some sharp interchange passing with Luke Pavillard at the top of the five meters.
 
The stalemate continued in the second with both teams unable to find their consistency. The nine consecutive days of intense water polo had seemed to have taken its toll on the players.
 
Wolohan once again provided Australia’s best avenue to goal combining perfectly with captain Matthew Perrott on the right for the Aussie number six to slot home from two meters.
 
Australia built on their 2-0 half time advantage with Blake Buckley converting another expertly taken lob – a mirror image of the one he scored against Greece on Saturday – to give Australia the 3-0 lead.
 
Their defense was a hallmark of their play – as Hrysanthos dominated in the cage to deny the USA a goal until the four minute mark of the third quarter.
 
Ryder Roberts opened his team’s account with a right-arm rocket from the right to make it 3-1 at the last break.
 
Both center forwards had little impact to that point with all four goals coming from the outside shooters and drivers.
 
The USA pegged back the margin early in the fourth through Patrick Fellner to make it a one goal ball game. Kent Inou then drove home from seven meters to complete his team’s comeback from three nil down.
 
Gordon Marshall then burst into the game with a late double to counteract Chandler Jarrels-Stickney’s center forward conversion on 3:15 to make it 5-4.
 
The USA had one final chance to equalize but Hrysanthos again proved to be the hero swimming away with possession to give the Aussies their fifth win of the tournament.
 
Buckley said it was great to finally post that ‘big game’ victory and said it had been a fantastic experience to play at a world championship level.
 
“It’s good to get a win in that last game to finish seventh and we did fight hard throughout the tournament, and the hard work actually did payoff in the end,” Buckley said.
 
“Hungary was probably the only game that we took a backwards step as you can’t take anything away from our game against Greece.
 
“We got the positive out of that game and we ended up with the goods today.”
 

 

USA Women Earn Fourth Place At FINA Youth World Championships Following Loss To Russia


Perth, Australia - December 9 - A resurgent Russia fought back from three goals down half way through the third term to defeat the United States of America 13-12 in their bronze medal playoff on Day 9 at Challenge Stadium, Perth.

The game was played at a ferocious speed with both teams scoring the majority of their goals in action play.

Elvina Karimova and Natalia Perfilyeva were the stars for Russia, while both US centre forwards – Mackenzie Barr and Devin Grab – were dominant.

Karimova said it was “wonderful” to win the match and said it was a fantastic feeling to share the bronze medal with all her teammates.

“The game was very hard for us to play today,” Karimova said.

“I am the captain. I have to play hard and put in goals but behind me is a strong team. All the girls did their best during the game. We played like a team.”

The two nations exchanged early goals with the pace picking up with each possession. Russia landed the first through the tournament’s leading scorer Karimova, before Grab powered home two at centre forward.

The USA employed a strong defensive press in the early stages, terrorising the Russian attack while also causing headaches for their defence.

Barr and Stephanie Mutafyan each found the back of the net to cancel out scores from Alina Tuchina, Nadezhda Yarondaykina and Karimova; 4-4 at quarter time.

The defensive pressure eventually dropped off in the second and goals started to flow.

The USA was unable to contain the shooting prowess of Karimova – 38 goals for the tournament – and Natalia Perfilyeva – 24 goals for the tournament – while the Americans continued to work the two metres with Barr, Melissa Bergesen, Makenzie Fischer and Emily Loughlin all capitalising.

Russia scored early in the third to level at 8-8, before the Americans opened a two goal advantage through a third centre forward strike to Barr and a first to Alys Williams.

Bergesen then converted from within five metres on the right hand post to increase the lead to three.

Not for the first time Russia was able to rebound with two goals to Karimova and Perfilyeva to restore the one goal half time deficit.

The final term was played at an even quicker pace with both teams racing up and down the pool. Karimova and Perfilyeva continued to carry the burden of their team’s attacking options, while the USA’s focus was again centred on a quick break and strong 2m offence.

That strategy ultimately failed with 1:10 remaining as Daria Ryzhkova and Perfilyeva pressurised the ball carrier eventual stealing possession – only for Perfilyeva to flick the ball to her partner in crime allowing Ryzhkova to slot home for 13-12.

The Americans had one last chance to power home an equaliser – and after coach Kyle Kopp called a timeout with 14 seconds remaining – the USA had a chance, but their attempt was deflected wide leaving the Russians to celebrate in delight.

A dejected Barr said her team had given their all, but unfortunately fell short as Russia proved too strong

“I feel bummed, but we definitely learned a lot. This is our first big tournament, we put a lot of time into training and preparing for this. Of course we’re disappointed, but we were neck and neck the whole time, and Russia was able to capitalise on our mistakes,” Barr said.

“We came to win, but you can always learn from these games. We’ve had a taste at the medal and this is just going to give us more drive. I now know what it feels like to come this close and not get the medal, so next time I want to do everything in my power to get the medal.”

Men's & Women's Articles by Lloyd Green posted at USA Water Polo:  www.usawaterpolo.org