The USA men got off to a slow start against three-time defending champions Serbia in the final of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final on Sunday and by the time they got going it was too little too late to prevent Serbia from becoming the four-time defending champs. The US didn’t score in the first quarter and was down 5-1 at the half. Needing to cut into the lead quickly the US was again shut out in the third quarter as Serbia put the game away by taking an 8-1 lead. The US made a nice comeback attempt in the fourth with five goals to make the scoreline a respectable 10-6 at the end but Serbia was never in much trouble.

The silver for the US is their first medal since grabbing a silver in 2008 as they had lost in the semifinals the last five times they reached that stage. Six players scored for the US: Alex Obert, Luca Cupido, Alex Bowen, Bret Bonanni, Ben Hallock, and Nikola Vavic. Leading scorer Tony Azevedo was held scoreless for the first time in the tournament. Merrill Moses and McQuin Baron split time in goal once again with Moses recording seven saves to Baron’s six.

The US quest for a gold in the Super Final will have to wait to next year but a chance at Olympic gold comes much sooner. The US will face Spain, France, Montenegro, Italy, and Croatia in the group stage of the Olympics with competition beginning Saturday August 6th. The gold medal will be decided two weeks later on August 20th.

USA Schedule:
Tuesday – Group B – USA 12-6 China
Wednesday – Group B – USA 10-7 Brazil
Thursday – Group B – USA 8-10 Serbia
Friday – Quarterfinals – USA 8(8)-8(7) Australia
Saturday – Semifinals – USA 11(6)-11(5) Greece
Sunday – Final – USA 6-10 Serbia

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview
China Recap
Brazil Recap
Serbia Recap
Australia Recap
Greece Recap

The USA men were forced into penalties for the second straight day and for the third time in their last four matches in the Super Final knockout round at the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final on Saturday. This time, unlike last year’s bronze medal match against Brazil, the US found the edge on penalties and despite needing to go six rounds held off Greece to lock up their first medal since 2008. The US had opened the match strong with a 5-2 lead after the first quarter but Greece had cut it to 6-5 at the half and evened it at 10-10 going to the fourth quarter. A defensive fourth saw each team score one goal and the 11-11 score sent the game to penalties. The US needed more than five rounds for the second straight day but pulled it out 6-5. Luca Cupido led the US with four goals while Tony Azevedo had two more. Once again Merrill Moses and McQuin Baron split time in goal with Moses recording nine saves to Baron’s one this time.

Serbia held off Italy 7-4 in the other semifinal so they will now rematch the US for gold after defeating the Americans 10-8 in the group stage. Serbia and Italy’s 11 combined goals made it the lowest scoring game of this tournament. Serbia is the three time defending champions while the US is trying to win their first ever gold.

USA Schedule:
Tuesday – Group B – USA 12-6 China
Wednesday – Group B – USA 10-7 Brazil
Thursday – Group B – USA 8-10 Serbia
Friday – Quarterfinals – USA 8(8)-8(7) Australia
Saturday – Semifinals – USA 11(6)-11(5) Greece
Sunday – Final – USA vs. Serbia

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview
China Recap
Brazil Recap
Serbia Recap
Australia Recap

The USA men needed penalties to do it but eventually the found the edge on Australia in the quarterfinals of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final on Friday as they won their third tight match with the Australians this year. The USA, who had defeated Australia 10-9 and 8-6 in the Intercontinental Qualifying Tournament last month, trailed this one 5-3 at the half and 6-4 going to the fourth quarter. A big fourth quarter got the US back even at 8-8 to force a penalty shootout. Both teams were extremely strong in the penalty shootout and it took nine rounds for the US to emerge an 8-7 winner. Tony Azevedo was limited but scored two goals for the Us as did Thomas Dunstan. Merrill Moses and McQuin Baron split time in goal with Baron making eight saves and Moses recording four.

Greece routed China 15-5 in the other quarterfinal on the US side of the bracket so the Americans will face them in the semifinals with a guaranteed medal at stake. Greece is 4-0 in this tournament but this is their first time in the Super Final since 2008. They have not medaled since a bronze when hosting in 2006. The US has not medaled since 2008. The possible final opponents for the US are Serbia and Italy as all of the teams with winning group stage records advanced to the semifinals.

USA Schedule:
Tuesday – Group B – USA 12-6 China
Wednesday – Group B – USA 10-7 Brazil
Thursday – Group B – USA 8-10 Serbia
Friday – Quarterfinals – USA 8(8)-8(7) Australia
Saturday – Semifinals – USA vs. Greece
Sunday – Final – USA vs. TBD

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview
China Recap
Brazil Recap
Serbia Recap

The USA men lost their first match of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final on Thursday as three-time defending champions Serbia pulled out to a 7-4 halftime lead en route to a 10-8 win. The USA still finished second in their group and will be facing Australia in the quarterfinals on Friday. Alex Bowen and Ben Hallock each had two goals for the US but their leading scorer through two games, Tony Azevedo, was only able to grab one. Merrill Moses had six saves while McQuin Baron had just two. Brazil beat China 4-2 in a penalty shootout after an 11-11 tie in the other Group B match.

Australia went 1-2 in Group A and lost to Greece 10-5 and Italy 14-7. The US and Australia met in the final of the Intercontinental Qualifying Tournament last month with the US winning 10-9. They met in the group stage of that event as well and the US narrowly won 8-6. The possible semifinal opponents for the US are Greece and China. The knockout round trickles all the way down to a 7th/8th place game so the US will have games each of the six days in the tournament.

USA Schedule:
Tuesday – Group B – USA 12-6 China
Wednesday – Group B – USA 10-7 Brazil
Thursday – Group B – USA 8-10 Serbia
Friday – Quarterfinals – USA vs. Australia
Saturday – Semifinals – USA vs. TBD
Sunday – Final – USA vs. TBD

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview
China Recap
Brazil Recap

The USA men won their second match at the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final on Wednesday as they defeated Brazil 10-7. Brazil played the US tough in the first half and this one was tied at five all going to the break. The US took the lead for good in the third quarter taking a 8-6 advantage to the fourth quarter. Tony Azevedo was the leading scorer again with five goals while Alex Bowen added a pair. McQuin Baron had seven saves while Merrill Moses had three.

Serbia beat China 20-5 in the other Group B match so they will meet the US for the top spot in Group B. Serbia beat the USA 13-7 in the group stage last year. Japan is 0-2 in Group A while Australia and Italy are 1-1. Japan takes on Italy while Australia faces 2-0 Greece on Thursday. All eight teams will compete in the quarterfinals so only seeding is at stake in the group stage. The knockout round trickles all the way down to a 7th/8th place game so the US will have games each of the six days in the tournament.

Group B Schedule:
Tuesday – USA 12-6 China, Serbia 14-10. Brazil
Wednesday – USA 10-7 Brazil, Serbia 20-5 China
Thursday – USA vs. Serbia, Brazil vs. China

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview
China Recap

The USA men opened the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final with a solid win over China 12-6 on Tuesday as they moved to 1-0 in the group stage. The USA wasn’t as dominant as they were in a 19-2 win over China last month but still were ahead 6-2 at the half. Tony Azevedo scored four goals in the win as did Josh Samuels. Ben Hallock had a pair with Merrill Moses saving six shots while McQuin Baron had five.

Serbia beat Brazil 14-10 in the other Group B match. The US faces Brazil next on Wednesday and owns a 16-11 win over them from the qualifying tournament in May. These two sides met in the third place match last year with Brazil defeating the US on penalties 14-13 to claim their first ever medal.

All eight teams will compete in the quarterfinals so only seeding is at stake in the group stage. The knockout round trickles all the way down to a 7th/8th place game so the US will have games each of the next six days.

Group B Schedule:
Tuesday – USA 12-6 China, Serbia 14-10. Brazil
Wednesday – USA vs. Brazil, Serbia vs. China
Thursday – USA vs. Serbia, Brazil vs. China

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final Coverage:
Preview

The US men will look to match the women’s world title from earlier this month when they compete in the FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final starting Tuesday in Huizhou, China. The US men are competing in Group B with Serbia, Brazil, and China in the opening stage of the tournament. While the US women have been the dominant nation in the women’s event the US men have only medaled twice and have finished fourth or fifth in the last seven years.

Serbia has been the dominant country on the men’s side winning seven titles in nine years since becoming an independent nation including the last five times they have entered the tournament (they did not enter in 2012). Brazil is making their fifth straight Super Final appearance but a bronze last year was their first medal. China is appearing in the Super Final for the seventh straight year but has never finished higher than fourth.

All eight teams will compete in the quarterfinals so only seeding is at stake in the group stage. The knockout round trickles all the way down to a 7th/8th place game so the US will have games each of the next six days. The US opens with China who they defeated in the qualifying tournament 19-2 in May.

Group B Schedule:
Tuesday – USA vs. China, Serbia vs. Brazil
Wednesday – USA vs. Brazil, Serbia vs. China
Thursday – USA vs. Serbia, Brazil vs. China

Previous FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Coverage:
FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament

The US men finished off a perfect qualifying tournament winning a gold medal game against Australia 10-9 to grab their second win against them. The US got three goals from Luca Cupido including the game winner with two seconds left. Josh Samuels scored three as well and Merrill Moses made eight saves.

The US joins Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Greece, Italy, and Serbia in the World League. The games will begin June 21st in China with three group stage matches before all eight teams compete in the quarterfinals.

Previous FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament Coverage:
Preview
Australia Recap
Japan Recap
Kazakhstan Recap
Brazil Recap
China Recap

The US men went to 5-0 in the qualifying tournament after an easy 19-2 win over China. The US led 5-0 after the first quarter and 9-1 at the half. Alex Obert scored four goals for the US with Bret Bonanni and Alex Roelse each adding three. McQuin Baron played in goal and made 19 saves.

The US will now face a rematch of their opening match against Australia to decide the gold medal for this tournament. Both teams, along with Brazil and Japan, are qualified for the World League. Australia has not lost since the opening match against the US.

Previous FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament Coverage:
Preview
Australia Recap
Japan Recap
Kazakhstan Recap
Brazil Recap

The US men continued their perfect run in qualifying as they defeated Brazil 16-11 in their fourth match in the intercontinental tournament. Falling behind after eight minutes for once the US rallied for a 6-5 lead at the half and pulled away with a four goal advantage in the fourth quarter for the five point win. Alex Bowen, John Mann, and Luca Cupido all had three goals for the US while Merrill Moses made 13 saves.

The US wraps up play in the group with China on Saturday. China is a woeful 0-4 and has been outscored 74-23 with three losses by 13 or more. They are hosting the World League so they will be a part of it but they don’t seem they will be competitive. The US defeated them 19-7 in qualifying last year.

Previous FINA Intercontinental Qualification Tournament Coverage:
Preview
Australia Recap
Japan Recap
Kazakhstan Recap