Zagreb, Croatia - December 22 - The USA Men's National Team wrapped up a two-game series with Croatia, falling 15-12 last night in an identical result from their first meeting earlier this week.
Alex Bowen,
Ryder Dodd and
Max Irving all scored three goals to pace the offense. Team USA now returns home for training ahead of the World Aquatics World Championships coming this February in Doha, Qatar.
Croatia took the lead early in the first quarter going up 1-0 before Irving tied the game moments later at 1-1. Croatia went in front 3-1 but Bowen scored to cut the deficit to one after one. Early in the second quarter it was
Alex Obert tying the game at 3-3. Croatia answered right back with four straight goals to go in front 7-3 with :38 left in the half. Team USA got one back but Croatia added another for an 8-4 edge at intermission.Â
Down 11-5 in the third, Team USA started to chip away.
Ben Hallock and
Quinn Woodhead scored to cut the lead down to 11-7. Croatia answered again to lead 12-7 but Bowen and Irving responded to make it 12-9 going to the fourth. The United States looked to keep the rally going in the fourth and got within two at 14-12 on a
Tyler Abramson goal with 1:55 to play. They'd get no closer as Croatia held on for the three goal victory.Â
Scoring
CRO 15 (3, 5, 4, 3) L. Bukic 5, Z. Butic 3, J. Kragic 3, R. Buric 1, M. Biljaka 1, A. Vukicevic 1, J. Vrlic 1
USA 12 (2, 2, 5, 4) R. Dodd 3, M. Irving 3, A. Bowen 3, Q. Woodhead 1, A. Obert 1, B. Hallock 1, T. Abramson 1
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