U.S. eliminated

SYDNEY, Australia - Saddled by a disastrous scoreless first quarter

in which the Russians took a commanding 3-0 lead, the United States men’s

water polo team fell in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Games, 11-10,

Thursday.

The loss was the American’s fourth in six starts at the Games, having

gone 2-3 in pool play before today’s loss to the Russians. It eliminates

the Americans, including captain Chris Oeding, a Corona del Mar High

product, who scored twice.

Team USA, coached by CdM boys and girls coach John Vargas, got three

goals from 18-year-old Long Beach Wilson High product Tony Azevedo, the

final bringing the Americans within one goal with 1:26 remaining.

But the Americans couldn’t get off another shot as Russia advanced to

the semifinals.

Wolf Wigo matched Azevedo for team-high scoring honors with three,

while Chris Humbert and Sean Kern also scored for the Americans.

Vargas watched his forces battle back with four goals in the second

quarter to pull to within 5-4 at halftime. Oeding scored with 40 seconds

left before intermission.

It was 9-7 after three quarters before the U.S. once again tried to

pull even with the Russians. The Americans did outscore them, 3-2, in the

final period, but it wasn’t enough.

Alexandre Erychov paced the winners with four goals and Serguei

Barbouzov added three.

The Americans advanced to the medal round after a 9-3 win over Greece,

a triumph that included two goals from Oeding, whose typical role is to

set up his teammates.

The other U.S. victory in the tournament was a 12-8 verdict against

the Netherlands.