GOLETA, California, June 8. ANOTHER game and another filled pool deck to see the well-traveled USA Men's Senior National Team, as Team USA took on Australia at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA just outside of Santa Barbara. On this night Team USA would falter surrendering a three goal lead and falling to the Aussies 11-9.
Again the first quarter was a boon for Team USA as they came out firing going on a 4-0 run after Australia struck first. They took the lead with two goals from Tony Azevedo and a goal apiece from Ryan Bailey and Jeff Powers. In the second quarter Australia began to rally drawing to within one at 5-4 when Gavin Woods seemingly finger-rolled the ball in with just under two minutes remaining in the half. At the intermission USA would still hold a one goal lead.
To start the third quarter Team USA seemed determine to restart their offense as Tim Hutten, the newly minted Cutino Award winner lit the lamp on a man-up advantage to push the lead back to 6-4. Australia rallied in a hurry running off four straight goals to turn a two goal deficit into a two goal lead at 8-6 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth Bailey drew a five meter just 12 seconds into the period and Azevedo did the job converting the penalty. Australia answered back with a score only to have the United States score two straight as Adam Wright hit on a man-up and then Jeff Powers came through to tie the score at 9-9 with 5:41 remaining. The Aussie's Tim Neesham gave the lead back to Australia at 10-9 with a shade over four minutes remaining. From there the USA frantically tried to tie the score before Sam McGregor silenced their charge with a goal with just 23 seconds remaining. That would complete the scoring and lead to the 11-9 defeat for Team USA.
Brandon Brooks went the whole way in net discarding nine shots. This game served as somewhat of a homecoming for Central California natives in Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo), Brian Alexander (Cambria) and head coach Terry Schroeder (San Marcos). The two teams will meet up once more on Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Tickets will be available at the door.
Special thanks to USA Water Polo for contributing this report.