Top Water Polo Teams Advance at Nationals
From staff reports
New York Athletic Club, the U.S. Men’s Senior National Water Polo tournament defending champion and winner of three of the last five titles, held off a late surge by Stanford to win, 6-5, and advance as the top team from its pool at Corona del Mar High.
Top challenger Newport Water Polo Foundation needed three fourth-quarter goals to down Bruin Water Polo, 9-5, to clinch its pool.
Larry Felix scored on a long-range shot for New York to break a 5-5 tie with 5:34 left to play. Stanford had four chances to tie in the final three minutes, but goalie Dan Hackett, a two-time Olympian, had two saves.
Other pool winners were New York’s B team and the Malibu Waves. Stanford, Bruin, Golden Bear and Sunset also advanced.