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IRVINE — The U.S. men’s water polo team on Tuesday night played its first match in home waters since 2019 by hosting Italy, the recent silver medalist at the FINA World Championships.
Team USA made the most of the opportunity.
Before a live television audience on ESPNU and an estimated 1,200 at Woollett Aquatics Center, the Stars and Stripes held off a second-half push by the Italians to secure a 13-12 victory to open a three-game series on the West Coast.
Goalie Drew Holland blocked a shot from near mid-pool on the final play to seal the victory for the Americans, who were coming off a sixth-place finish at the FINA World Championships in Hungary.
Team USA led by as many as five goals but had an answer each time the Italians trimmed its advantage to one. Marko Vavic delivered the final response with a power-play strike off a cross pass by Max Irving with 48 seconds left in regulation for a 13-11 lead.
The eventual game-winning goal drew the loudest chants of “USA! USA!” of the night.
“Loved the home water, loved the big crowd around us,” said Alex Bowen, who scored two of his team-high four goals in the fourth quarter for Team USA.
Former Orange Lutheran standout Hannes Daube added three goals for the Americans while Vavic and captain Ben Hallock each added two. Huntington Beach graduate Chase Dodd, the youngest U.S. player, started and scored once and added two assists, a steal and won a sprint.
UC San Diego product Jack Turner provided an early spark by blocking a penalty shot and the ensuing rebound. Turner made 11 saves in the first half before giving way to Holland, who finished with seven.
“Overall, I’m satisfied,” U.S. coach Dejan Udovicic said. “I’m thankful the pool was packed. That’s really nice to see.”
“We’re going in a good direction,” he added. “Everyone saw in Hungary we can play against anyone. We need to make that little step, but it’s a huge step, to be in the position that we can dictate the game (against any opponent).”
Francesco Di Fulvio and Giacomo Cannella led Italy with four goals apiece.
The three-games series between the United States and Italy continues Friday at Stanford and Saturday at Santa Clara. The teams are preparing for the FINA World League Super Final in France starting July 22.