Amr, Powers lead U.S. team to win

Former UC Irvine standouts Omar Amr and Jeff Powers combined for

three goals as the U.S. men’s national water polo team trounced

Japan, 14-4, on the second day of competition at the 2003 FINA World

Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

The victory, combined with Monday’s tie with 2003 European

champion Serbia and Montenegro, gives the United States a chance to

finish first in its group if they can defeat Australia on Friday.

Powers opened the scoring for the U.S., which fell behind early,

1-0. Amr contributed two goals, one on a man-advantage situation to

finish the first-half scoring and another on a counterattack that

gave the U.S. team a 9-2 lead in the third quarter.

Dan Klatt and Ryan Bailey, also former UC Irvine players,

contributed significant minutes in the pool while another former

Anteater Genai Kerr served as the backup goalie.

The U.S. returns to the pool Friday against Australia at 6:30 p.m.

Barcelona time.