Barcelona, Spain - December 22 - The U.S. Men's Senior National Team fell to Spain yesterday, 18-14, to conclude the Water Polo Christmas Cup. Ryder Dodd powered Team USA with four goals while Nicolas Saveljic scored three times.
Spain struck first in this contest with a pair of goals to get things started. Saveljic picked up right where he left off in match one to give the United States its opening goal. Both sides struggled to score for five minutes before the hosts found another pair of goals to set the score at 4-1 after one.
A Spanish goal began the second quarter before Ryder Dodd and Marko Vavic connected on back-to-back possessions for the Americans. The two sides traded goals throughout the next few minutes with Saveljic and Dash McFarland offsetting two goals from Spain. In the final 1:11 of the half, Ryder Dodd and Max Irving scored to level the contest at 7-7 at the break.
Both sides found offensive success in the third period. Spain opened with two goals before Chase Dodd got Team USA on the board. Another goal from the hosts was matched by Vavic and Saveljic tying the game midway through the third. Each side scored two more times, with Ryder Dodd and Jack Larsen finding the back of the net for the United States to leave the squads knotted at 12-12 after three.
An opening fourth quarter goal from the hosts was answered by Chase Dodd on the other end before another Spanish score inspired another Ryder Dodd goal. From there, Spain found its separation as it poured in four goals in the final four minutes to claim the 18-14 victory on home soil.
Scoring - Stats
USA 14 (1, 6, 5, 2) R. Dodd 4, N. Saveljic 3, C. Dodd 2, M. Vavic 2, M. Irving 1, J. Larsen 1, D. McFarland 1
ESP 18 (4, 3, 5, 6) U. Biel 3, P. Daura 3, A. Bustos 2, A. Granados 2, O. Ascensio 1, B. Gomila 1, M. Larumbe 1, E. Lorrio 1, A. Sabadell 1, B. Sanahuja 1, F. Valera 1, M. Valls 1
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