Water Polo: Haralabidis sisters lead Greece into Youth Worlds title match

Corona del Mar High senior twins Stephania and Ioanna Haralabidis will play for a title Sunday at the inaugural FINA Youth World Water Polo Championships in Perth, Australia.

The Haralabidis sisters and Greece topped the United States, 8-3, in a semifinal Friday. Stephania Haralabidis scored a goal for Greece, which will play Hungary in the championship match Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Perth time (12:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time).

The United States, which features Newport Harbor High graduate Maddy McLaren, CdM senior Cassidy Papa and Newport sophomore goalie Carlee Kapana, will play Russia in the bronze-medal match on Saturday at 11:10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Papa is the U.S. team captain.

The Haralabidis sisters, who are ineligible to compete for CdM until after Dec. 31, have been leaders for Greece. Stephania is tied for the team lead with 13 goals, and Ioanna has scored 10 goals.

The United States men, who feature CdM senior Reid Chase and are coached by former Newport Harbor head man Jason Lynch, fell to Croatia, 17-7, in a quarterfinal Friday. Chase scored a pair of six-on-five goals in the loss.

Team USA plays Romania on Saturday in a fifth-place semifinal.

— Matt Szabo