Fukuoka, Japan - July 19 - The USA Men's National Team turned a 4-3 first quarter deficit into a 16-8 win over Australia thanks to a dominant second half that saw Team USA outscore the Aussies 10-2.
Hannes Daube led the charge with five goals flanked by three goals apiece from
Johnny Hooper and
Max Irving.
Adrian Weinberg went the distance in net recording 12 saves. Team USA drew five penalties in the match and converted them all. The fate of the group hangs in the balance late tomorrow night when Team USA meets Greece to close out pool play at 9:30pm pt July 20/12:30am et (July 21). Both teams are 2-0. Live streaming coverage is available via
Peacock TV (subscription required). Live stats are available via Total Water Polo by
clicking here.
Team USA went in front early 2-1 thanks to a goal from Irving, but Australia came right back with three straight scores for a 4-2 edge with 1:45 to play in the quarter. Not long after George Ford was whistled for a brutality and Daube converted on the first of penalty shots to cut the lead down to one at 4-3 going to the second period. A penalty against Australia opened the second quarter and
Alex Bowen converted, tying the match at 4-4. Daube scored a power play goal to give Team USA the lead back but the Aussies responded one more with consecutive tallies for a 6-5 lead with 3:11 to go in the half. Hooper had the final word with a score with less than a minute to play for a 6-6 match at intermission.
Australia took one last lead on a Nathan Power goal to open the third, after that it was all Team USA. Four straight goals followed, the last from Irving on a penalty shot, to give Team USA a 10-7 lead going to the fourth. Hooper started the scoring in the fourth and the floodgates were open as the United States would go on to connect for six total scores in the period. Daube delivered twice in the run and Bowen closed things out with his second of the match with just :44 left as Team USA confirmed the eight goal victory.
The United States went 4/7 on power plays and 5/5 on penalties while Australia went 3/7 on power plays and did not attempt any penalties.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 16 (3, 3, 4, 6) H. Daube 5, M. Irving 3, J. Hooper 3, A. Bowen 2, B. Hallock 1, C. Dodd 1, L. Cupido 1
AUS 8 (4, 2, 1, 1) N. Power 3, L. Pavillard 3, R. Townsend 2
Saves - USA - A. Weinberg 12 - AUS - N. Porter 5
6x5 - USA - 4/7 - AUS - 3/7
Penalties - USA - 5/5 - AUS - 0/0
