The USA Men’s National Team opened play at the Volvo Cup with a 21-11 loss to Hungary earlier today. Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford) and Josh Samuels (Villa Park, CA/UCLA/NYAC) scored three goals each in the loss. Team USA returns to action on Saturday when they meet Canada at 8:15am pst. The competition will conclude on Sunday with a match against Croatia at 1:30am pst.
Hungary opened up the match with a big offensive effort posting seven goals in the first eight minutes to take a 7-4 lead into the second quarter. They kept at it outscoring Team USA 4-2 in the second period to build an 11-6 lead at halftime. Hungary put the match away in the third period outscoring the United States 5-1 to grab a 16-7 lead going into the final period. The United States kept it closer in the fourth scoring four goals to just five from Hungary, but the damage was done with Hungary winning 21-11.
Team USA went 6/13 on power plays and 2/2 on penalty shots. Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC) and Luca Cupido (Newport Beach, CA/California/Newport Beach) helped the offense with two goals each.
Scoring – BoxScore
USA 11 (4, 2, 1, 4) J. Samuels 3, B. Bonanni 3, A. Bowen 2, L. Cupido 2, J. Mann 1
HUN 21 (7, 4, 5, 5)
Saves – USA – D. Holland – 5
USA 11 Canada 11
Budapest, Hungary – February 14 – The USA Men’s National Team battled to an 11-11 draw with Canada on day two of the Volvo Cup in Hungary. Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford) led the USA offense with four goals while Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Stanford) went the distance in net posting nine saves. Team USA closes out the competition tomorrow with a match against Croatia at 8:15am pst.
The two teams were even to start the match both scoring two goals each in the first eight minutes. In the second period the United States went ahead outscoring Canada 3-1 to grab a 5-3 lead at halftime. In the third Canada roared back with five goals in the third to tie the game at 8-8 going to the fourth. Each squad mustered three goals in the fourth to forge the 11-11 draw.
Team USA went 4/10 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots. Jackson Kimbell (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford), Josh Samuels (Villa Park, CA/UCLA/NYAC), and Luca Cupido(Newport Beach, CA/California/Newport Beach) added to the USA scoring with two goals apiece.
While in Hungary, Team USA met Colleen Bell, the newly appointed United States of America ambassador to Hungary. She posed for a photo with the team and talked with players and coaches.
Scoring – Scoresheet
USA 11 (2, 3, 3, 3) B. Bonanni 4, J. Samuels 2, J. Kimbell 2, L. Cupido 2, N. Carniglia 1
CAN 11 (2, 1, 5, 3)
Saves – USA – D. Holland 9
6×5 – USA 4/10
Penalties – USA – 1/1
Croatia 15 USA 8
Budapest, Hungary – February 15 – The USA Men’s Senior National Team closed out play at the Volvo Cup in Hungary with a 15-8 loss to Croatia. At the end of three matches, Team USA went 0-2-1 with a 21-11 loss to Hungary, an 11-11 tie against Canada and then a final loss to Croatia. Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach, CA/Stanford/Stanford) continued to pace the USA offense in the series with three goals against Croatia. Drew Holland (Orinda, CA/Stanford/Stanford) tallied seven saves in net for the United States. Next up for Team USA will be the third week of National League action this March 7-8 at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana, CA. For more National League information, click here.
Croatia got off to a hot start in this match grabbing a 5-1 lead after the first quarter. Team USA came to life in the second quarter posting three goals only to have Croatia counter with three of their own to take an 8-4 lead into halftime. In the third quarter Croatia put the match away with four more goals to hold a 12-6 lead at the end of three periods. Croatia added three more goals in the final eight minutes and came away with the 15-8 victory.
Team USA went 3/6 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty while Hungary was 4/6 on power plays and 2/2 on penalty shots.
Scoring – Scoresheet
USA 8 (1, 3, 2, 2) B. Bonanni 3, L. Cupido 1, J. Samuels 1, A. Bowen 1, B. Hallock 1, J. Mann 1
HUN 15 (5, 3, 4, 3)
6×5 – USA 3-6 – HUN – 4-6
Penalties – USA 0-0 – HUN 2-2
Saves – USA – D. Holland 7
Water Polo News courtesy of USA Water Polo.
