Laster Helps U.S. Defeat Mexico in Water Polo’s Alamo Cup
Jeremy Laster was told Wednesday night he would be playing with the U.S. national team at the Alamo Cup. On Thursday, he made the most of his opportunity, scoring four goals and adding three assists in a 14-1 victory over Mexico at Corona del Mar High.
Laster, a San Clemente High graduate who helped Stanford win the NCAA title last fall, had been assigned to play with the U.S. B team in the tournament. However, Chris Humbert, the United States’ leading scorer at the Barcelona Olympics, won’t be finished with his professional team in Italy until Wednesday, so Laster was his late replacement.
Soon after he entered the match as a reserve, Laster made his presence felt. Two minutes into the second quarter, he took a long pass from goalkeeper Dan Hackett, walked the ball in and scored to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead. Three minutes later, he took another pass from Hackett and scored again.
By this time, Mexico’s defense was lagging, and Laster easily outswam his pursuit.
“I just felt myself getting open on the counter,” said Laster, who also blocked a shot and had two steals.
U.S. Coach Rich Corso said he was pleased with how the defense is developing. Mexico is one of the weaker teams in the tournament, but the U.S. totally took it out of the game. Mexico had more turnovers (21) than shots (15). The U.S. had 16 steals.
“If we can establish our defense, with our end-to-end speed, we feel we can get out there on the fast break,” Corso said.
It took most of the first quarter to establish the break. The match was scoreless until Kirk Everist scored the first of his six goals with 46 seconds left in the quarter. Everist scored on a breakaway after a pass from Hackett, one of three assists for the Irvine High graduate.
The U.S. team, which took 33 shots, built its lead to 10-0 before Mexico’s Raul Hernandez scored a man-up goal with 3:54 remaining. Alex Asta scored twice, Mike Burke, a San Clemente High graduate, had a goal and an assist, and Eriks Krumins, a Newport Harbor graduate, scored once.
The United States, which has won each of the previous two Alamo Cup tournaments, finishes pool play today at 11:45 a.m. against Japan and 8 p.m. against Cuba.
The first series of four games starts at 8 a.m. today; the second slate starts at 4:15 p.m.
Cuba beat Japan, 19-5, earlier Thursday. Australia defeated Canada, 17-7, and Hungary beat the U.S. B team, 14-7.
Two-time Olympian and former UC Irvine standout Mike Evans, who retired from competition after the 1992 Games, scored three goals for the U.S. B team.
