WATER POLO USA Men Defeated By Serbia 10-6; Will Play For Bronze On Sunday

 

Paris, France - August 9 - The U.S. Men's Olympic Water Polo Team came up short in their semifinal battle with Serbia, losing 10-6 earlier today. Marko Vavic scored twice to lead the offense with Adrian Weinberg recording 15 saves in net. Team USA now looks towards the bronze medal match on Sunday against the loser of the Hungary/Croatia semifinal. Game time is set for 10:35am Paris time/4:35am et/1:35am pt with LIVE coverage on USA Network and Peacock. The match will re-air on USA Network at 10:30am pt. Click here for more broadcast details. Click here for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games.

Marko Vavic picked up where he left off on Wednesday evening, scoring the first goal in this one after hitting the game-winner in the quarterfinal round. Team USA led 1-0 before Serbia came back to tie the match with 3:39 left in the quarter. Ryder Dodd hit on a power play moments later to put the United States back ahead at 2-1. With less than ninety seconds to go in the quarter Serbia scored again to even the match at 2-2 after one. Halfway through the second quarter it was Serbia taking a lead they would never give up as they pulled ahead 3-2 with 4:22 to play. Serbia followed with another as Nikola Jacksic scored one of his three on the way for a 4-2 lead. Luca Cupido came back with a strike on the next possession to get the United States back within one at 4-3. With under three minutes to go it was Serbia hitting again, this time on the power play for a 5-3 lead. Ben Hallock kept the see-saw battle going, drilling a power play try for a 5-4 game with 2:27 to play. Serbia had the last word as Nikola Dedovic hit on one of his four goals in the match for a 6-4 edge at intermission.

Serbia opened up a three-goal lead in the first minute of the third quarter, leading 7-4. Vavic clawed one back on a power play to make it 7-5. Serbia again went up three at 8-5 but Alex Bowen connected on a power play to keep the USA close at 8-6 with play moving to the fourth quarter. Serbia tightened up their defense over the final eight minutes as they held Team USA scoreless. On the other end Serbia was able to keep their offense going. Two power play goals spelled doom for Team USA as Serbia took the match by four.

Team USA went 5/16 on the power play while Serbia went 7/10 with neither side attempting a penalty shot.

Scoring - Stats

USA 6 (2, 2, 2, 0) M. Vavic 2, R. Dodd 1, A. Bowen 1, L. Cupido 1, B. Hallock 1

SRB 10 (2, 4, 2, 2) N. Dedovic 4, N. Jaksic 3, N. Vico 1, P. Jaksic 1, S. Randelovic 1

Saves - USA - A. Weinberg 15 - SRB - R. Filipovic 10

6x5 - USA - 5/16 - SRB - 7/10

Penalties - USA - 0/0 - SRB - 0/0