2022 Pan American Junior Water Polo Championships Day 1

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Indianapolis, IN - July 11 - The first day of the 2022 Pan American Junior Water Polo Championships is underway at the Indiana University Natatorium! Follow along for updates throughout the day.

Team USA
Final: USA 26, Canada 5.

The U.S. Men's Youth National Team took care of business at Day 1 of the 2022 Pan American Junior Water Polo Championships, defeating Canada 26-5. Ryder Dodd led the way with six goals while Christopher Arakelian added four on the day.

Team USA came out of the gates quickly, scoring six goals in the opening quarter. Reed Pantaleon, Gage Verdegaal, and Daniel Mnatsakanian aided Dodd's first quarter hat trick to lead 6-0 after one. In the second, the Americans added five goals before Giancarlo Marquez got Canada on the board with a pair of goals. Verdegaal, Jacob Tsotadze, Carter Loth, and Arakelian each put goals on the board to finish the period with a 15-3 advantage.

The United States used a 7-1 third quarter to really open up their lead. Tsotadze converted on a man-up advantage followed by Arakelian, Loth, Castillo, Evan Ausmus, and Dodd with two more. Marquez scored again in the period to record a hat trick for Canada. In the fourth quarter, Team USA took advantage of three Canadian exclusions. Tsotadze, Arakelian, and Benjamin Liechty all utilized the man advantage to find the back of the net before Dodd capped off his big day with his sixth and final goal. Nathanial Eidsness scored late for Canada as Team USA emerged victorious, 26-5.

Final: USA 22, Argentina 5.

The U.S. Women's Youth National Team got off to a good start at Day 1 of the 2022 Pan American Junior Water Polo Championships, besting Argentina 22-5. Ava Stryker netted a team-high five goals as Genoa Rossi, Maggie Hawkins, and Amber Nowaczek all scored thrice.

Team USA got on the board quickly when Rachel Gazzaniga scored 90 seconds into the opening quarter. Stryker, Rossi, Hawkins, and Nowaczek each added a goal of their own in the quarter while Lucía Victoria Ruíz Castellani and Ana Jazmín Agnesina scored for Argentina. The United States led 5-2 headed into the second quarter where they turned up the defense. Stryker and Hawkins recorded two goals each and Nowaczek added another for the Americans as their defense held Argentina scoreless in the quarter to propel them to a 10-2 lead at halftime.

Argentina got their offense going out of the halftime break as Isabella Mastronardi Belpoliti and Ruíz Castellani both scored to cut the deficit to six. Team USA responded with six unanswered goals to finish the period, starting with a beautiful lob shot from Quinn Healy. Rossi, Stryker, Julianne Snyder, Margaret Johnson, and Stryker again scored to close the period with a 16-4 advantage. Mastronardi Belpoliti scored to open the fourth quarter for the Argentinians and then the Americans put the game to bed. Rossi, Ava Knepper, Healy, Nowaczek, Knepper once again, and Snyder rattled off six straight scores for the United States to end the game with a 22-5 victory.

Other Men's Games
Final: Argentina 22, Puerto Rico 8

The Argentinian men opened their game against Puerto Rico with four straight goals and never looked back. Nicolás Joaquín Bonifassi scored five times while captain Martino Rizzo added four goals. Juan Fernández and Francisco Miguel Rueda Nessi both netted three goals for Argentina in the 22-8 win.

Kai De Orbeta Ramirez led the way for Puerto Rico with four goals while Joaquin Del Rio Delfino and Eugenio Maldonado Rivera each chipped in two.

Other Women's Games
Final: Brazil 24, Chile 2.

The Brazilian women came to play in their opening match against Chile. Once Barbara Gutierrez opened the game's scoring for Chile, Brazil's defense turned up the intensity and Chile remained scoreless until late in the third period.  Luana Gabrielle Bonetti led all scorers with eight goals and Karen Da Silva added four for Brazil on their way to a 24-2 victory over Chile.

Gutierrez and Valentina Diaz scored for Chile in the loss.