Huntington Beach, CA – December 17 – The USA Men’s National Team returns to action on home turf tonight for the start of a two game series with Croatia. Team USA is back in action after defeating Japan in an exhibition match last week in Tokyo. Tonight’s match at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach will start at 8pm and is part of the USA Women’s National Team Holiday Cup festivities. The USA Women take on Spain at 6:30pm. On Sunday the USA Men will host Croatia at 2pm at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
Olympic veterans Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC), Jesse Smith(Coronado, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC), and Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC) will lead Team USA into action against the current Olympic champions in Croatia.
For tonight’s match, students (HS and younger) are encouraged to bring a valid ID for $10 admission at the door. Tonight’s match will also be live streamed and can be viewed by clicking here. Tickets for Sunday’s match at USC are available by clicking here. Live stats will also be available at each match via The FOSH.
See below for complete rosters for both teams.
USA-Croatia Exhibition Series
December 17 – Corona del Mar HS – 8pm – Live Stats – Live Webcast
December 20 – USC – 2pm – Live Stats
USA Men’s National Team – USA/CRO Exhibition Series
1. Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC)
2. Nikola Vavic (Palos Verdes, CA/USC/Trojan)
3. Alex Obert (Loomis, CA/Pacific/Sac Polo)
4. Jackson Kimbell (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/Newport)
5. Alex Roelse (Maarssen, Netherlands/UCLA/Bruin)
6. Nic Carniglia (Lodi, CA/California/Davis)
7. Josh Samuels (Villa Park, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
8. Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC) (C)
9. Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC)
10. Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford)
11. Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC)
12. Thomas Dunstan (New Canaan, CT/Mater Dei HS/Regency)
13. McQuin Baron (North Tustin, CA/USC/Regency)
14. Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Stanford)
Head Coach: Dejan Udovicic
Asst. Coach: Jack Kocur, Alex Rodriguez
Team Manager: Rick McKee
Croatia Men’s National Team – USA/CRO Exhibition Series
1. Josip Pavic (C)
2. Damir Buric
3. Antonio Petkovic
4. Luka Loncar
5. Maro Jokovic
6. Luka Bukic
7. Petar Muslim
8. Andro Busjle
9. Sandro Sukno
10. Boris Pavlovic
11. Angelo Setka
12. Marko Macan
13. Marko Bijac
14. Ante Vukicevic
Head Coach: Ivica Tucak
Asst. Coach: Pero Kuterovac
Swimming news courtesy of USA Water Polo.
