With Laguna Center, USA Water Polo Takes on Canada Today

For the first time today since winning the gold medal at the London Olympics, the U.S. women's national water polo team will play today against Canada at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos to begin the FINA World League Prelims.

Eight players return from the 2012 Olympic team, including three from Orange County -- goalkeeper Tumua Anae of Newport Beach; center Annika Dries of Laguna Beach; and attacker Courtney Mathewson of Anaheim Hills.

The  15-player U.S. roster also includes three other Orange County players -- attackers Rachel Fattal of Seal Beach and Jillian Kraus of Santa Ana, and defender Danielle Warde of Newport Beach -- and two from Los Angeles County, attackers Lolo Silver of Long Beach and Monica Vavic of Palos Verdes.

The game is set to begin at 7:20 p.m.

The U.S. will also play Brazil at 3 p.m. Saturday, Canada at 7:20 p.m. Sunday and Brazil at noon Monday in the three-team tournament that will help determine seeding for the FINA World League Super Final, which will be played June 1-6 in Beijing. The U.S. team that plays in the prelims will also play in the super final.

Canada is coached by Guy Baker, the U.S. coach in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Brazil is coached by Sandy Nitta, the U.S. coach in the 1980s and 1990s.

The U.S. men's team will begin tournament play Saturday by facing Canada at 1 p.m. and Brazil at 7:20 p.m. It will also play twice on Monday, playing Canada at 8 a.m. and Brazil at 3 p.m.

- City News Service