Doha, Qatar - February 5 - The USA Men's National Team opened play at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships with a 16-15 loss to Montenegro in a penalty shootout.
Alex Bowen scored six goals for the Americans while
Hannes Daube and
Ryder Dodd scored two apiece.
Drew Holland recorded ten saves in the cage. Team USA returns to play early Wednesday morning when they meet Japan at 4:00am et/1:00am pt. Live streaming is available via Peacock by
clicking here (subscription required) with live stats from Total Water Polo by
clicking here. Omega Timing provides official post game stats, access their results by
clicking here.
It was a close contest throughout between Team USA and Montenegro. Bowen got on the board first but Montenegro quickly answered for 1-1. Five scoreless minutes followed before Montenegro tacked on two more at the end of the opening frame to lead 3-1. Both defenses picked up again to begin the second quarter as the two sides played over four minutes without a goal.
Luca Cupido ended the drought and cut the deficit in half for the Americans. From there, Montenegro and Bowen traded scores until the halftime break to give the Europeans a 5-4 edge at intermission.
In the third period, Montenegro struck first before Daube and Team USA captain
Ben Hallock scored back-to-back goals to level the score at 6-6. Four man-advantage goals, three for Montenegro and one for Daube, put an end to the third with Montenegro ahead 9-7. Bowen and
Ryder Dodd scored two action goals to get things going in the fourth quarter. Montenegro retook the lead before
Ryder Dodd countered. Less than a minute later, Montenegro regained the advantage again. With just over one minute remaining in regulation, Bowen knotted things at 11-11 and the opening game of the World Championships went into a penalty shootout.
During the shootout, Montenegro went 5/7 while Team USA managed 4/7 and the Europeans prevailed 16-15.
The United States went 2/6 on power plays and 1/3 on penalties prior to the shootout while Montenegro went 6/7 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties before the shootout.
Scoring -
Scoresheet
USA 15 (1, 3, 3, 4, 4) A. Bowen 6, R. Dodd 2, H. Daube 2, B. Hallock 2, L. Cupido 1, M. Irving 1, J. Hooper 1
MNE 16 (3, 2, 4, 2, 5) A. Ukropina 3, M. Perkovic 2, D. Matkovic 2, D. Brguljan 2, V. Popadic 2, S. Vidovic 2, V. Radovic 1, M. Mrsic 1, J. Vujovic 1
6x5 - USA - 2/6 - MNE - 6/7
Penalties - USA - 1/3 - MNE 1/1
Saves - USA - D. Holland 10 - MNE - P. Tesanovic 9
