Friday, February 16, 2024

WATER POLO USA Men Finish Play In Doha With 13-9 Win Over Romania Take Ninth Place


 

Doha, Qatar - February 15 - The USA Men's National Team concluded their 2024 World Aquatics World Championships tournament with a win over Romania 13-9 to take ninth place. Alex Bowen and Max Irving scored three times for the Americans while Alex Obert added two to the scoreboard. Adrian Weinberg's save percentage was 58% in goal with 11 saves. Omega Timing provided the official post game stats available here.

Team USA got off to a good start having five different shooters score in the first quarter including Irving, Ben Hallock, Bowen, Luca Cupido and Johnny Hooper. Romania scored twice to end the first trailing 5-2. The second quarter saw huge defensive efforts from Team USA as Weinberg led with 3 blocks early then Hallock field blocked a Romanian attempt. Romania would get two late in the half, then Obert would score on the power play to give Team USA the 4-7 lead.

Romania opened the third quarter with a six on five goal, then Irving went back to back to make it 8-5. The Romanians continued to push as they found the back of the net three more times to end the third down 10-8. Two American goals were scored early in the last quarter before Romania responded to make it 12-9. With :13 seconds left in the game, Obert added one last goal to seal Team USA's ninth place finish.

The United States went 4/7 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties while Romania went 4/13 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties.

Scoring - Scoresheet

USA 13 (5, 2, 3, 3) A. Bowen 3, M. Irving 3, A. Obert 2, L. Cupido 1, C. Dodd 1, B. Hallock 1, J. Hooper 1, D. Woodhead 1

ROU 9 (2, 2, 4, 1) V. Georgescu 4, D. Belenyesi 2, S. Colodrovschi 1, A. Prioteasa 1, A. Tepelus 1

6x5 - USA - 4/7 - ROU - 4/13

Penalties - USA -2/3 - ROU 2/3

Saves - USA -A. Weinberg 11, D. Holland 1- ROU - M. Tic 7

No comments: