Dubrovnik, Croatia - September 4 - The quarterfinals were contested today at the inaugural World Aquatics Water Polo 4x4 Open Championships in Dubrovnik and the USA Women beat South Africa, 3-0, before the USA Men lost to Croatia after penalties, 3-2. Jenna Flynn scored seven goals for the women while Lauren Steele recorded seven saves in net. Marko Vavic scored five for the men as Chris Whitelegge recorded six saves in the cage. The USA Men will now play Montenegro in the 5th-8th place semifinals tomorrow at 6:30am pt while the USA Women advance to the semifinals against Australia at 9:00am pt. The matches will stream live on the World Aquatics YouTube channel with live stats available from Microplus Timing Services.
In the first quarterfinal of the day, Jenna Flynn scored twice to start the game before Ryann Neushul and Rachel Fattal added to the advantage. Haley Wan and Nina Flynn scored for a six-goal lead and then Neushul put home a pair to enact the mercy rule in a 8-0 first set for a 1-0 lead.
Jenna Flynn began the second set the exact same way as the first with two quick goals but this time she added a third to start. Then, Jordan Raney joined the party and Neushul came up with a huge block which she took the other way for a counterattack goal. Raney sent a second score in on a lob shot and Jenna Flynn pushed the lead to seven before Steele made a save and full-tank shot for a two-point goal to secure a 9-0 set win and 2-0 edge.
The United States scored first in the third set when Neushul rang the register. Minutes later, Fattal doubled the advantage. Jenna Flynn, Neushul, and Nina Flynn finished things off 5-0 for the Americans who advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 win.
Team USA went 1/3 on power plays with no penalties attempted while South Africa went 0/0 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring - Stats
USA 3 (8, 9, 5) J. Flynn 7, R. Neushul 6, R. Fattal 2, N. Flynn 2, J. Raney 2, L. Steele 1, H. Wan 1
RSA 0 (0, 0, 0)
Saves - USA - L. Steele 7 - RSA - O. McMurray 1
6x5 - USA - 1/3 - RSA - 0/0
Penalties - USA - 0/0 - RSA - 0/0
The last quarterfinal of the day began with Marko Vavic scoring first before the hosts leveled. Midway through the first, Croatia took the lead but Carson Kranz skipped one home to answer. Croatia scored the final two goals to claim the set 4-2 and grab a 1-0 lead.
The Croatians had the first word in the second over two minutes into the set. No goals followed for the duration of the set until Team USA called timeout with :06 left to try and tie the score. JP Ohl quickly produced the game-tying goal and, in the chaos of Croatia trying to retrieve the ball and beat the buzzer, Kranz deflected a last-second attempt and pushed the ball across the line again for a dramatic 2-1 second set victory to tie the game at 1-1.
The hosts struck first in the third with three quick goals. Just past midway through the set, Marko Vavic converted a penalty shot for the United States but Croatia responded with a cross cage goal. Marko Vavic found the back of the net again late but the Americans could not catch the Croatians who took the set 4-2 and a 2-1 edge.
Stefan Vavic scored twice to begin the fourth set and then the hosts got one back. Jake Howerton also got involved for the United States to increase the lead but Croatia scored twice more to equalize. Marko Vavic put the Americans back in front before a Croatian counterattack kept things tight. The home team took a late lead before a fourth team foul gave Team USA a penalty shot and possession with :15 left. Marko Vavic connected on the five meter try and then Stefan Vavic kept the United States alive with a set-winning goal at the buzzer. The 6-5 win sent the quarterfinal match into a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, each team hit its first attempt. Croatia sank the second as well before making a nice save on the American attempt. The third Croatian make sent them through to the semifinals with a 3-2 win.
Team USA went 5/9 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties before the shootout while Croatia went 3/5 on power plays with no penalties attempted before the shootout.
Scoring - Stats
USA 2 (2, 2, 2, 6, 1) M. Vavic 5, S. Vavic 3, C. Kranz 2, J. Howerton 1, J. Ohl 1
CRO 3 (4, 1, 4, 5, 3) I. Vukojevic 6, R. Pelicaric 5, N. Dragas 2, F. Krzic 1
Saves - USA - C. Whitelegge 6 - CRO - A. Vukojevic X
6x5 - USA - 5/9 - CRO - 3/5
Penalties - USA - 2/3 - CRO - 0/0
