Laguna's Annika Dries Helps U.S. Water Polo Route Brazil

The U.S. men's national water polo routed Canada, 24-0, and the women's team defeated Brazil, 10-0, today in FINA World League Prelim games at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

Paul Reynolds (Santa Ana) and Collin Smith each scored five goals in the men's game, Shea Buckner (Villa Park) four, former UC Irvine standout Brandon Johnson three, Alex Bowen, Alex Obert and Michael Rosenthal two each and Jeffrey Schwimer (Beverly Hills) one.

Goalkeeper Andy Stevens (Orange) recorded the shutout in the U.S.' first game of the three-team tournament that will help determine seeding for the FINA World League Super Finals, which will be played June 11-16 in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

The U.S. led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, 13-0 at halftime and 21-0 after three quarters.

The U.S. team was to play Brazil later tonight.

In the women's game, Annika Dries (Laguna Beach), Jillian Kraus (Santa Ana) and Lolo Silver (Long Beach) scored two goals and Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills), Kelly Rulon, Maggie Steffens and Monica Vavic (Palos Verdes) one each.

Goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong recorded the shutout.

The U.S. led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, 3-0 at halftime and 8- 0 at the end of three quarters, improving to 2-0 in the tournament that will help determine seeding for the FINA World League Super Finals, which will be played June 1-6 in Beijing.

The U.S. women's team will face Canada at 7:20 p.m. Sunday, a rematch of the Americans' 11-7 victory Friday.

The U.S. men's team will conclude tournament play Monday by facing Canada at 8 a.m. and Brazil at 3 p.m.

- City News Service