U.S. water polo remains perfect in pool play

LOS ALAMITOS — The USA Junior National men’s water polo team defeated France, 16-6, on Wednesday to advance past group play at the 2007 Junior World Championships, held both at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Center and Cal State Long Beach.

The U.S. team won Group B of the 24-team tournament with a 5-0 mark, also winning against Croatia, France, Canada, Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Team United States now plays Japan in the Round of 16 tonight at 7 p.m. at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Center. Japan (2-3) finished fourth in Group C.

The winner of tonight’s game will play either Hungary or Egypt on Friday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals, also at Los Alamitos.

The Junior Nationals tournament is for athletes born in 1987 and younger. UC Irvine women’s coach Dan Klatt, a Costa Mesa resident, is one of the coaches for the United States.

— From staff reports