Laguna Player Helps U.S. Men's Water Polo Team Defeat Canada

John Mann of Newport Beach scored the tie-breaking goal with two minutes, five seconds to play Thursday to give the U.S. men's water polo team an 8-7 victory over Canada in the decisive third game of their FINA World Cup qualifying series.

Alex Bowen's power-play goal with 3:51 left gave the U.S. a 7-5 lead at the Santa Ana YMCA, but Canada tied the score with 2:30 on back-to-back goals by Scott Robinson and Jared McElroy.

Goalkeeper McQuin Baron, a senior at Mater Dei High School who lives in North Tustin, made nine saves in his first start for the U.S.

Bret Bonanni of Huntington Beach scored three goals and Bowen and Mann two each.

Nolan McConnell of Laguna Beach scored the only goal of the first period.

The U.S. led 3-2 at halftime as Bonanni scored twice in the second period.

Bowen scored the only U.S. goal of the third period, which ended in a 4- 4 tie.

Mann and Bonanni scored in the fourth period to give the U.S. a 6-4 lead with with 4:55 to play.

The U.S. went three-for-13 on power plays, Canada five-for-11.

The U.S. won Game 1 of the series, 11-6, Tuesday. Canada won Game 2 10-9 in Wednesday, forcing today's decisive third game.

The U.S. was 6-3 against Canada this year, with its five-game winning streak ending Wednesday.

The U.S. is sixth in the rankings compiled by FINA, the worldwide governing body for aquatics, seven spots ahead of Canada.

The FINA men's World Cup will be played in Almaty, Kazakhstan Aug. 19-24.