Results
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Pro Recco 9 - Savona 7
Pro Recco 9 - Brescia 8
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May 25: Game 2, Pro Recco - Brescia
Team USA center Ben Hallock and Pro Recco advanced to the Italian League final with their 9-7 win over Savona. After a convincing 14-6 win in the first game, Pro Recco needed more effort to close this one out. At halftime, Savona led 5-4 and Andrea Patchaliev increased the home team's lead to 6-4 coming out of the break. From there, Pro Recco turned it up on both ends. Gonzalo Echenique and Matteo Aicardi both scored power play goals to tie the score, then Aaron Younger gave the visitors the lead in the 27th minute. Aleksandar Ivovic made it 8-6 for Pro Recco before Iocchi Gratta finally broke a 12-minute scoring drought for Savona. Younger replied immediately for Pro Recco and the visitors won this game 9-7 and the series 2-0.
The defeat of Savona in the semi-finals means Pro Recco made the Italian League final and face Brescia for the championship. In the first game, Brescia had a one goal lead twice in the opening period but Pro Recco answered both times to tie the score, 2-2. Pro Recco's Giacomo Cannella and Aleksander Ivovic opened the scoring in the second quarter before Brescia equalized. With seven seconds to go until the halftime break, Francesco Di Fulvio found the back of the net on a power play to push Pro Recco in front 5-4. Brescia came out strong in the third quarter and ended with a 3-2 period to tie the score at 7-7 heading to the fourth. Following Ivovic's penalty for Pro Recco and Vicenzo Dolce scoring for Brescia, the game was tied and hanging in the balance with two minutes to play. That's when Cannella converted on the man up power play to put Pro Recco ahead for good.
Pro Recco now leads Brescia in the best-of-three final series, 1-0.
Information via
total-waterpolo.com
