WATER POLO: USA Men Come Up Just Short After Hot Start; Fall To Italy 12-11 In Third Match In Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan - July 29 - A blistering hot start, that saw the U.S. Olympic Men's Water Polo Team lead by as many as four goals, wasn't enough as Italy rallied for a 12-11 win in the third match of group play at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Team USA now falls to 2-1 while Italy improves to 2-0-1 in Group A action. A high octane effort from Team USA was led on offense by two goals apiece from Alex Obert, Luca Cupido, Alex Bowen and Max Irving. Drew Holland piled up 11 saves in net in his second start in Tokyo. A full replay of the match is available by clicking here and will replay as part of Olympic programming on NBC starting at 12pm et/9am pt and NBC Sports Network starting at 8pm et/5pm pt. Team USA is back in action on Saturday when they take on Hungary in Group A play at 2pm local time/1am eastern/10pm pacific (July 30). The match will air live on USA Network and can be streamed by clicking here.  

Team USA couldn't have scripted a better start to

this match as Alex Obert cleaned up a Hannes Daube shot for a power play goal just a minute into the action. Just a few minutes later Alex Bowen ripped the net from the outside on a power play goal for a 2-0 lead. Moments later Bowen converted on a penalty shot, then Max Irving added a penalty shot score of his own and quickly Team USA was up 4-0 on the defending World Champions. Italy began to chip away stringing together consecutive goals to make it 4-2 after one.

Italy carried the hot hand into the second quarter drawing to within one at 4-3 just a minute into the quarter. Team USA answered with an outside score from Hannes Daube and a power play goal from Cupido to rebuild their lead to three at 6-3 with 3:18 left in the half. After Italy clawed back to within two, Cupido hit on another power play to make it 7-4 with time running out in the second quarter. Italy had the final word as Pietro Figlioli connected on a power play as time expired in the first half, leaving Team USA ahead 7-5 at the break. 

Johnny Hooper scored on the power play to open the third quarter, giving Team USA a 8-5 lead less than thirty seconds into the period. Stefano Luongo followed with one of his three goals in the match to make it 8-6. Marko Vavic answered with a goal of his own for a 9-6 lead with 5:45 to play in the quarter. Italy then turned back to Francesco Di Fulvio who scored back-to-back goals, two of his five on the day, to draw Italy within one at 9-8 going to the fourth quarter.

Italy tied the game in the opening minute of the fourth quarter but Irving came right back with a goal on a difficult angle attack for a 10-9 lead. After Italy missed a penalty try off the post, Obert went back to work scoring his second goal for an 11-9 edge with 5:22 to play. Luongo came back with a power play goal moments later for an 11-10 score. A few minutes after that the game was tied, thanks to a penalty shot score from Di Fulvio for an 11-11 match with 2:22 to go. Italy took their first lead of the game and connected for the game winner with 1:40 left as Nicholas Presciutti converted on the rebound for a 12-11 lead. Last chances for Team USA didn't convert and Italy took the comeback victory by one.

Team USA went 6/12 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties while Italy went 7/12 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 11 (4, 3, 2, 2) L. Cupido 2, A. Bowen 2, M. Irving 2, A. Obert 2, J. Hooper 1, M. Vavic 1, H. Daube 1
ITA 12 (2, 3, 3, 4) F. Di Fulvio 5, S. Luongo 3, P. Figlioli 2, N. Presciutti 2
Saves - USA - D. Holland 11 - ITA - M. Del Lungo 13
6x5 - USA - 6/12 - ITA - 7/12
Penalties - USA - 2/3 - ITA - 1/2