GUADALAJARA, Mexico, October 30. THE USA Water Polo Men's National Team won the Pan American Games Gold Medal and a berth to the 2012 Olympic Games with a 7-3 defeat of Canada at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. A tight first quarter gave way to a commanding effort by Team USA that saw their defense flummox Canada at every turn allowing just three scores, the last of which came with less than a minute remaining in the contest. Captain Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, Calif./Stanford/NYAC) playing in his first game of the tournament after battling a muscle strain, delivered with a game high three goals. Merrill Moses (Palos Verdes, Calif./Pepperdine/NYAC) posted eight saves in anchoring the defense that recorded seven field blocks and forced the Canadians into 0/8 shooting on power plays.
Each team got off to a slow start as it was scoreless up until the 3:04 mark when Peter Hudnut (Encino, Calif./Stanford/NYAC) broke the ice on a power play score to go up 1-0. Canada answered on the next possession to even the game at 1-1. With 1:33 left in the period Team USA got on the right side of a two goal swing when Moses shut down a 2-on-1 break by Canada which led to Azevedo delivering a lob shot score for a 2-1 lead. Three minutes into the second period Canada again tied the match at 2-2, but that would be as close as they would get. Azevedo cashed in another lob with :46 left in the quarter and then Jesse Smith (Coronado, Calif./Pepperdine/NYAC) closed out the half with deep goal with less than a second on the clock to take a 4-2 advantage.
The momentum carried into the second half as the defense kept Canada at bay for the entire third quarter while the USA offense closed the period with a bang as Azevedo buried a shot from distance for a 5-2 lead. Team USA closed things up in the fourth period with a Tim Hutten (Seal Beach, Calif./UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) power play goal and a Jeff Powers (San Luis Obispo, Calif./UC-Irvine/Newport WPF) outside shot to go up 7-2. The United States went 2/3 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty while Canada was 0/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Notes: The Gold Medal represents Team USA's fifth straight Pan American Games title. Azevedo was selected as Team USA's flag bearer for the Pan American Games closing ceremony taking place Sunday evening.
Scoring – Scoresheet
USA 7 (2, 2, 1, 2) T. Azevedo 3, P. Hudnut 1, J. Powers 1, J. Smith 1, T. Hutten 1
CAN 3 (1, 1, 0, 1)
Saves – USA – M. Moses – 8
6×5 – USA – 2/3 – CAN 0/8
Penalties – USA 0/0 – CAN 1/1
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