WATER POLO ALAMO CUP : U.S. Is Defenseless in Loss to Greece
LAKE FOREST — Doug Kimbell, considered one of the world’s best water polo defenders, didn’t have much of a chance to show it Friday in the U.S. national team’s 9-6 loss to Greece at the Alamo Cup ’93 at El Toro High School.
Kimbell, a 6-foot-9 graduate of Villa Park High and a veteran of two Olympics, got into early foul trouble and sat out most of the second and all of the third quarter.
Then shortly after he returned to the pool in the fourth quarter, he received his disqualifying third ejection with 4 minutes 36 seconds left in the game.
Kimbell’s replacement at two-meters, 6-8 Kyle Kopp also got into foul trouble, receiving his second ejection at the 2:20 mark of the third quarter.
Greece filled the vacuum inside by scoring six of its nine goals from close range. Konstantinos Loudis scored four of them, each while Greece had a one-man advantage.
Kimbell said the last time he fouled out so early was in the gold medal game at the 1991 Pam Am games against Cuba. The U.S. lost that game.
The stakes, however, weren’t nearly as high this time. Although it was the first loss for the U.S. in two years of Alamo Cup play, the U.S. is experimenting with a number of younger players.
“No one wants to lose a game,” U.S. Coach Rich Corso said. “But if we can struggle here and benefit in the future, that’s what we are hoping to do.”
On the other hand, Greece is fine-tuning its game, preparing for the European Championships next month.
Alex Rousseau scored three goals in the first quarter for the Americans.
After playing the Americans to a 4-4 tie in the first half, Greece took control in the third quarter. Loudis scored one of his man-up goals from two meters, off a pass from George Mavrotas with 2.59 left in the quarter.
Later in the quarter, Kirk Everist’s four-meter penalty shot missed and on the next possession Greece took a two-goal lead when Anastasios Papanastasiou scored from the hole.
The U.S. is 1-1 with games remaining against Cuba today and Russia Sunday. Greece has won both its games.
In other games:
The U.S. B team gave Cuba a bit of a scare, before losing, 13-9. The U.S. led, 2-0, early in the first quarter, but Cuba rallied behind five goals by Juan Carlos Hernandez.
Russia improved to 2-0 with a 13-9 victory over Canada.
The round-robin tournament continues at 9 a.m. today at Corona del Mar High when Greece faces Canada. In other games, Russia plays the U.S. B team at 10:15, Russia and Greece play at 3:30 p.m. and the U.S. plays Cuba at 5 p.m.
