Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Men’s Senior National Team defeated Australia 17-9 in a water polo match.
- Ryder Dodd led Team USA with five goals scored, while Marko Vavic added three goals.
- Adrian Weinberg recorded 13 saves in net for Team USA.
- The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Mt. San Antonio College to conclude the series.
- Tickets for the game are still available, and live streaming will be on Overnght with live stats on 6-8 Sports.
Introduction to the Match
The U.S. Men’s Senior National Team began a two-game series against Australia with a convincing 17-9 win. The match, held on January 10, saw Team USA get off to a hot start and never look back. Ryder Dodd and Ryan Ohl scored the first two goals of the game, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The Aussies were only able to score once in the first quarter, and that was from five meters. Dominic Brown, Vavic, and Dylan Woodhead scored three consecutive goals to push the American lead to 5-1 after one.
First Half Dominance
The United States continued its scoring on the opening possession of the second period when Vavic ripped a backhand into the back of the net. Ryder Dodd and Ben Liechty followed with a pair of goals to force an Australian timeout. The visitors were able to score out of the timeout off a set play and put another goal away late in the period, but Chase Dodd and Ryder Dodd each connected in the final minute, with Ryder beating the halftime buzzer for a 10-3 edge at the break. The first half saw Team USA dominate the Australians, with Ryder Dodd and Marko Vavic leading the charge.
Second Half Action
The third quarter began with a pair of counter-attack strikes from Chase Dodd and Max Irving before the Aussies scored on a man advantage midway through the frame. Vavic and Bode Brinkema responded with two quick scores for Team USA prior to another Australian goal. The Americans earned an exclusion late, and unselfish passing led to a wide-open goal for Peter Castillo to make the score 15-5 with one quarter to play. The fourth quarter saw the Aussies mount a late surge, scoring three quick goals, but it was too little, too late. Ryder Dodd scored one more goal for Team USA at the end to claim a 17-9 victory on home soil.
Statistical Breakdown
The final score was 17-9 in favor of Team USA, with Ryder Dodd leading the way with five goals scored. Marko Vavic added three goals, while Chase Dodd, Max Irving, Bode Brinkema, Dominic Brown, Peter Castillo, Ben Liechty, Ryan Ohl, and Dylan Woodhead all scored one goal each. Adrian Weinberg recorded 13 saves in net for Team USA, while Nick Porter had five saves for Australia. The Americans were 5/11 on 6×5 opportunities, while the Aussies were 3/10. The match saw few penalties, with Team USA going 1/1 and Australia going 1/3.
Conclusion and Next Match
The win marked a strong start to the two-game series for Team USA. The squads will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Mt. San Antonio College at 1 pm pt to conclude the series. Tickets for the game are still available, and live streaming will be on Overnght with live stats on 6-8 Sports. With their dominant performance in the first match, Team USA will look to carry their momentum into the second game and sweep the series. The Australians, on the other hand, will aim to bounce back and split the series. The second match promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series, and fans can expect another intense and competitive game between the two teams.