Team USA men lose again to Croatia

WESTLAKE VILLAGE — A late rally came up short and the U.S. men’s water polo senior national team lost to Croatia, 6-5, on Tuesday night at Oaks Christian School.

The loss dropped Team USA to 0-3 against Croatia in the teams’ four-game series. Croatia also won 12-10 last Friday in Riverside and 8-7 on Sunday at Stanford, in the final game of five-time Olympian Tony Azevedo.

The final game of the four-game series will be Wednesday night at 7 at Long Beach State.

Laguna Beach High graduate Nolan McConnell (Long Beach State) was one of five goal-scorers Tuesday for Team USA. Thomas Dunstan, Nic Carniglia, Alex Bowen and Max Irving also scored.

McConnell’s goal with 1:21 remaining in the game brought Team USA within a goal, but the Americans couldn’t get closer.

McQuin Baron made 16 saves for Team USA.

Huntington Beach High alum Alex Wolf, Newport Harbor grad Luca Cupido and Laguna Beach’s Duncan Lynde are the other locals on the roster for Team USA. Wolf and Cupido did not play Tuesday night, while Lynde drew two exclusions.

— Matt Szabo

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Twitter: @mjszabo