Croatia scored the first goal of the match to go up 1-0 but Team USA roared back with three goals coming from Luca Cupido (Newport Beach, CA/California/Newport Beach WPC), Jesse Smith (Coronado, CA/Pepperdine/NYAC) and Bonanni for a 3-1 lead with 1:49 left in the period. The high scoring continued in the second period with Croatia outscoring Team USA 4-3 to tie the game at 7-7 at halftime.
Tony Azevedo (Long Beach, CA/Stanford/NYAC) scored early in the third to put Team USA ahead by one but that would be as close as the team would get to victory. Croatia proceeded to score the next six goals in the period to open a 13-8 lead. In the fourth Bonanni stopped the run with a goal to make it 13-9 but Croatia had the match in control. They added a goal as time expired to cap the victory at 14-9.
Team USA went 2/10 on power plays and 3/3 on penalty shots while Croatia went 5/12 on power plays and 1/2 on penalty shots.
Scoring – Scoresheet
USA 9 (4, 3, 1, 1) B. Bonanni 3, L. Cupido 2, T. Azevedo 1, N. Vavic 1, N. Carniglia 1, J. Smith 1
CRO 14 (3, 4, 6, 1) A. Petkovic 3, D. Buric 2, M. Jokovic 2, A. Setka 2, S. Sukno 2, P. Muslim 1, B. Pavlovic 1, A. Vukicevic 1
Saves – USA – M. Moses 5, M. Baron 3, CRO – J. Pavic 4, M. Bijac 4
6×5 – USA – 2/10 – CRO – 5/12
Penalties – USA – 3/3 – CRO – 1/2
Swimming news courtesy of USA Water Polo.