By Greg Mescall

The U.S. Olympic Men's Water Polo Team suffered their first loss at the 2012 Olympic Games, an 11-6 defeat at the hands of Serbia. Ryan Bailey (Long Beach, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) scored two goals and Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC) stopped 12 shots in the defeat. The loss drops Team USA to 3-1 in pool play as they ready for Hungary on Monday. The match is scheduled to air live on NBC in the east at 10:30am est and on delay in the west at 9:30am pst. Despite the loss, Team USA has still clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round with seeding to be determined.

Serbia was in control of this match from the get go as they scored a counter attack goal just 33 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. They followed with another counter attack score some three minutes later to claim a 2-0 lead. In the interim, Moses provided some key saves to keep the United States in the match. Serbia came calling again with a power play strike with 2:00 to go in the first for a 3-0 lead. Team USA broke through on their next possession with an outside shot from Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC) for a 3-1 match. Serbia would have the final word in the opening period as Zivko Gocic hit from distance for a 4-1 lead with just :16 to play in the quarter.

The United States started off strong in the second period as they went inside to Bailey for a backhand, making it 4-2 in favor of Serbia with 6:25 left. The two sides would neutralize each other over the next several minutes. That included a sequence of three consecutive blocks from Moses on the same Serbian offensive trip. With just :16 left in the half Serbia put another tally on the board on a counter attack to take a 5-2 lead. The United States had a response with a shot from outside courtesy of Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) to make it 5-3 in favor of Serbia at intermission.

That would be as close as the United States would get on this night as Serbia used the third period to extend their advantage. They hit on three consecutive goals to open the period, two coming on power plays, to take an 8-3 lead with 3:29 left in the third. Team USA ended the period with the final blow, as Peter Varellas (Moraga, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) drilled a power play score for an 8-4 game after three.

Early in the fourth the United States looked to be on the comeback trail when Tim Hutten (Seal Beach, CA/UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) was the recipient of excellent passing for a power play goal. Serbia halted the momentum with a goal on their next possession, rebuilding a four goal lead at 9-5 with 6:52 to play in the period. Over the next few minutes the United States faltered on a power play and missed a penalty shot before Bailey redirected a dish from Azevedo into the cage for a score and a 9-6 game with 2:54 left. Serbia would not relent and pumped in two more goals, the last coming with :34 to play in the match to seal the victory. That game would end with Serbia the winners at 11-6.

Notes:

Team USA went 2/8 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties while Serbia was 4/9 on power plays and did not attempt any penalties. Team USA has not defeated Serbia in a major championship since the semifinals of the 2008 Olympic Games. Serbia is now assured the top seed in Group B.

 

Originally published by USA Water Polo (http://www.teamusa.org)

 

 

USA Men Suffer First Water Polo Setback with 11-6 Loss to Serbia