The Uytengsu Aquatic Center on the campus of USC played host for the final match of the three game series between the USA Water Polo Men’s National Team and Italy. Team USA took the victory 9-7 behind three goals each from Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/Stanford) and John Mann (Newport Beach, CA/California/NYAC) while McQuin Baron (North Tustin, CA/USC/Regency) and Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Lamorinda) combined in goal for the victory. Francesco Di Fulvio led the Italian attack with four goals. The series concludes with the United States winning twice and tying once. Team USA drew with Italy 10-10 at Newport Harbor HS on December 28 before taking an 11-10 win at Pomona-Pitzer on December 30.
In this match, Italy struck first to open the match with a tally from Francesco Di Fulvio for a 1-0 lead. The advantage was short-lived as Team USA roared back with consecutive goals from Bowen for a 2-1 lead. Then with 2:48 remaining in the period Mann spun free inside for a goal and a 3-1 lead after the first eight minutes. In the second period Team USA built on their lead behind strong goalkeeping from Baron and another goal, this time by Bret Bonanni(Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford). Bonanni converted on a power play drawn by Mann to take a 4-1 lead. Italy would rally with goals from Di Fulvio and the high scoring Stefano Luongo to draw within 4-3 at intermission.
The comeback continued for Italy early in the third period with another goal from Francesco Coppoli to even the match at 4-4 with 5:39 left in the period. Bowen answered a little over a minute later with his third goal of the match for a 5-4 USA lead. After the teams traded some defensive stops, Italy found the back of the net with 12 seconds left in the period on a goal from Di Fulvio to knot the match at 5-5 going to the fourth.
Di Fulvio scored his third of the day to open the final period pushing Italy ahead 6-5. The lead didn’t last long with another tally from Mann on a power play to even the match at 6-6. Bonanni delivered for his second goal of the day with 3:19 left for a 7-6 advantage. Team USA began to pull away with a tally from Ben Hallock (Studio City, CA/Harvard Westlake/Bruin) for an 8-6 lead. Italy looked to make one last run with a goal from Alessandro Velotto to draw within 8-7 with 1:05 remaining. Defense would cap the match for the United States as Nikola Vavic (Palos Verdes, CA/USC/Trojan) came up with a steal on the perimeter and fed Mann for an easy breakaway goal to seal the match at 9-7.
Scoring
USA 9 (3, 1, 1, 4) A. Bowen 3, J. Mann 3, B. Bonanni 2, B. Hallock 1
ITA 7 (1, 2, 2, 2) F. Di Fulvio 4, S. Luongo 1, F. Coppoli 1, A. Velotto 1
Water Polo News courtesy of USA Water Polo.