Team USA beats Italy for seventh

Former UC Irvine standout Jeff Powers scored one goal to help the

United States men’s water polo team defeat Italy, 9-8, in the

seventh-place game of the Olympic Games Sunday in Athens, Greece.

Powers was joined on Team USA by former Anteaters Ryan Bailey,

Omar Amr, Dan Klatt and Genai Kerr. Amr had two shots and an assist

against Italy, while Bailey had one shot.

Tony Azevedo, who finished second among all scorers in the

tournament with eight goals in seven games, had three goals for the

Americans Sunday.

Jessie Smith also had three goals for Team USA, which received two

goals from Layne Beaubien.

The United States finished 4-3 in the tournament and failed to

earn a medal for the fourth straight Olympics.

Team USA was sixth at the 2000 Sydney Games, seventh in 1996 in

Atlanta and fourth in Barcelona in 1992. The Americans won the bronze

medal in Seoul in 1998 and in Los Angeles in 1984.

Goalie Brandon Brooks made 11 saves for the United States Sunday

as the Americans outscored Italy, 2-0, in the second period to take a

4-2 halftime advantage, then held on.

Team USA defeated Australia, 6-5, Friday to advance to the

seventh-place game.