Canada defeats USA in UANA Men's Water Polo Qualification Tournament
Calgary, Canada - February 3 - The USA Men's National Team took the silver medal at the UANA World Aquatic Championship Qualification Tournament following a 6-5 loss to Canada on Sunday. Two goals from Nikola Vavic (Palos Verdes, CA/USC/Trojan) and a late rally from Team USA were not enough to top Canada. Despite the loss, Team USA accomplishes their main goal of qualifying for the 2013 FINA World Championships set for this summer in Barcelona, Spain.
For the second time this week Canada came out strong against Team USA, grabbing a 2-0 lead after the first period. In the second period, Canada continued to build, going up 4-0 before the United States broke through with a goal from Vavic with 2:48 to go in the half. Trailing 4-1 to start the third period, Team USA began to rally scoring two straight goals from Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) and Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford) for a 4-3 game with 3:55 left in the period. Canada scored two of the next three goals and rebuilt a two goal lead, ahead 6-4 going to the fourth.
In the final period Team USA was able to keep Canada off the board but couldn't muster the necessary offense. It wasn't until 2:19 remaining in the game that Scott Davidson (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/NYAC) found the net with a score to draw within 6-5. Team USA would get no closer despite drawing an exclusion in the closing moments and came away on the losing end 6-5.
Team USA went 0/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Canada was 4/9 on power plays and did not attempt any penalties.
Scoring - Scoresheet
USA 5 (0, 1, 3, 1) N. Vavic 2, R. Bailey 1, B. Bonanni 1, S. Davidson 1
CAN 6 (2, 2, 2, 0) J. Boyd 3, N. Constantin Bicari 1, K. Graham 1, J. McElroy 1
6x5 - USA - 0/8 - CAN 4/9
Penalties - USA 1/1 - CAN 0/0
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Greg Mescall
Associate Director of Communications
USA Water Polo
714-500-5455
[email protected]
2124 Main Street, Ste. 240
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
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