Water Polo Canada – Canadian teams record their first win at the FINA Inter-Continental Cup

(March 27, 2019) – Both Canadian teams picked up their first win and points at the 2019 FINA Inter-Continental Cup in Perth. The Canadian men opened the second day of competition with an impressive 18-4 win against South Africa while the Canadian women earned three valuable points through a 13-4 victory over Kazakhstan.

CANADA 18 – 4 SOUTH AFRICA (5-1, 5-0, 2-2, 6-1)

Dusan Aleksic, Gaelan Patterson, Sean Spooner (2), Nicolas Constantin-Bicari (1), Jérémie Côté (6), Jérémie Blanchard, Bogdan Djerkovic (1), David Lapins (1), Aleksa Gardijan (3), Aria Soleimani, Devon Thumwood (2), Reuel D’Souza (2), Milan Radenovic (GK).

Jérémie Côté led the way for Canada in the first quarter, scoring a hat-trick to help his squad take a 5-1 lead early into the game. The Canadian team continued on its offensive streak in the second quarter, adding five more goals to show a 10-1 lead at halftime.

In a much closer third quarter, South Africa found the back of the net twice while Reuel D’Souza and Nicolas Constantin-Bicari each tallied one to help Canada keep a nine-goal lead. The Canadian offence exploded again in the final quarter. Devon Thumwood scored his second of the day on a penalty shot. Aleksa Gardijan completed his hat-trick on the Canadian power play while Côté netted his fifth and sixth of the game to confirm the 18-4 win. His six-goal performance awarded Jérémie Côté the “Player of the Game” mention.

The Canadian men will face Japan Thursday, March 28 at 3:45 pm local time / 3:45 am EST. Live stream is available on FINA TV  (subscription required).

CANADA 13 – 4 KAZAKHSTAN (3-0, 4-1, 3-0, 3-3)

Jessica Gaudreault, Krystina Alogbo, Axelle Crevier, Gurpreet Sohi, Monika Eggens, Kelly McKee, Joelle Bekhazi, Elyse Lemay-Lavoie, Hayley McKelvey (4), Amanda Amorosa, Kindred Paul, Shae Fournier, Claire Wright (GK).

The Canadian women were looking to secure their first points of the tournament in their matchup against Kazakhstan. Monika Eggens opened the scoring for Canada halfway through the first quarter just to see Krystina Alogbo double the lead moments later. Shae Fournier converted a penalty shot late in the first period to put the Canadians in front 3-0. Great defence by the Canadians helped them increase their lead in the second quarter. Fournier scored twice while Eggens and Alogbo netted their second goal of the night.

The Canadian women’s team continue to push in the second half; Hayley McKelvey scored a beautiful top corner goal early in the third quarter and added one more on a penalty shot. Gurpreet Sohi beat the goalkeeper from close range to net her first goal of the tournament while Canada’s goalkeeper, Claire Wright, stopped Kazakhstan’s attempts at the other end of the pool to give the red and white a 10-1 lead.

The Kazakhstanis took advantage of their chances in the fourth quarter, scoring twice early in the period. Canada’s answer came from Axelle Crevier with 4:31 to play in the game. McKelvey completed the score for the Canadian team to bring her total to nine goals in the tournament. Canada recorded the 13-4 win to secure the three points and take the second place in Group B. Claire Wright’s brilliant performance in the Canadian net helped her claim the “Player of the Game” certificate.

Canada will face South Africa in the final match of pool play Thursday, March 28 at 9:30 am local time/ 9:30 pm EST (March 27). Live stream is available on FINA TV ( subscription required).

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MEDIA

Mylène Turcotte-Fitzgerald
Water Polo Canada Communications
mfitzgerald@waterpolo.ca
613-748-5682 x 325