U.S. Men’s Water Polo Splits Pair of Games with Australia
The U.S. men’s water polo team split a two-game set in California last weekend with Australia.
The U.S. won, 17-9, on Saturday in Irvine, then lost a day later in Walnut by a 13-10 margin.
The Americans were relentless in Game 1, scoring five times in each of the first three quarters and leading 10-3 at the break. Ryder Dodd scored five goals, and Marko Vavic added a hat trick. Chase Dodd had two goals and four assists.
The U.S. took advantage of man advantages in the first quarter to blow open a 2-1 game. Dominic Brown drew an exclusion and scored 6-on-5 at 3:51, Vavic added a man-advantage goal and Dylan Woodhead scored 6-on-4 with 1:21 left to make it 5-1. Vavic and Ryder Dodd scored early in the second, and a Ben Leichty transition goal made it 8-1.
Adrian Weinberg made 13 saves to go with two assists.
Marcus Berehulak led Australia with four goals. Jacob Mercep chipped in two goals.
Australia turned the tide in Sunday’s game, taking control with a 6-1 margin in the second quarter to lead 8-4 at half. The six goals came via two each from Mercep, Berehulak and Matthew Byrnes.
Byrnes pumped home four on the night. Luke Pavillard tallied a hat trick. Mercep had two goals and two assists. Laurence Barker stepped into net and made 13 saves.
Pavillard recorded his hat trick in the third quarter, twice making it a five-goal game. The U.S. got within three on Peter Castillo’s goal late in the third quarter, but the Aussies made sure they came no closer.
Ryder Dodd again lead the U.S. with three goals and three assists. Chase Dodd scored twice. The Aussies held Vavic to 0-for-6 shooting, and Max Irving had just one goal in the two games. Bernardo Herzer (eight goals on 11 shots) and Charlie Mills (five goals on nine shots) collectively struggled in net.
