U.S. Controls Cuba Early for Water Polo Win
After two easy victories against weaker opponents at the Alamo Cup, the U.S. national water polo team had a tougher challenge Friday night at Corona del Mar High.
Cuba, a strong, dangerous team, stood between the United States and an undefeated record in pool play, but the U.S. team took control of the match early and held on to win, 14-10.
The United States, two-time defending Alamo Cup champion, will play Australia in a semifinal match at 6:15 p.m. today. Hungary, which beat Australia, 9-8, to win the other pool Friday, will play Cuba in the other semifinal at 5.
After a 17-8 victory over Japan earlier Friday, which followed the opening 14-1 rout of Mexico Thursday, the U.S. team was bound to have a tougher time against Cuba, a powerful team that plays well in streaks.
U.S. Coach Rich Corso said it was important to start quickly against Cuba. “It’s really hard to come back against the Cubans once they establish their rhythm,” Corso said.
His team followed the game plan perfectly, making its first four shots of the match.
Kirk Everist and Alex Rousseau each scored twice and the United States led, 4-0, less than three minutes into the match.
From then on, the teams played fairly evenly. The United States led by as many as five goals several times, and Cuba cut the lead to three with 4 minutes 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter but never really got back into the game.
Everist and Rousseau each finished with three goals and Alex Asta and Troy Barnhart had two for the U.S. team. Pedro Biart scored five for Cuba.
Cuba’s Ivan Perez, one of the top two-meter players in the world, presented problems. The U.S. two-meter defenders were ejected nine times, leading to many of Cuba’s six man-advantage goals.
Five of those ejections were charged to Villa Park graduates. Doug Kimbell, the U.S. team’s primary two-meter defender, received his third early in the fourth quarter, disqualifying him from the rest of the match.
Gavin Arroyo received two ejections and was guarding Perez when he scored his only goal to make it 11-7 late in the third quarter. On the play, Perez took a pass in the hole with Arroyo, who finished his career at California last fall, on his back.
“He’s a thick 230 pounds; I’m a rather lanky 185,” Arroyo said. “All I remember was holding his shooting arm with both of my arms.”
All that was visible above the water was Perez’s arm and the ball, soon to be past goalkeeper Chris Duplanty and in the back of the net.
The U.S. B team, which lost to Australia, 11-6, and beat Canada, 12-8, Friday, will play Mexico in today’s first match at 2:30 p.m. Canada and Japan will play at 3:45.