BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Serbia outscored Canada 6-0, 8-0 and 7-0 over the span of the first three quarters to roll to a 28-2 victory in the final game of men’s Pool C play at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). Due to the loss, Canada finishes Third in Pool C and will next be in action against the United Kingdom/Great Britain in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, August 23, at 10:20 a.m. local time.
St. Francis College Brooklyn rising junior Nikita Prokhin (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) appeared in 20:52 of playing time for Canada in the game shot zero-for-two as the Canadians converted on two-of-11 shots. Serbia converted 28-of-36 shots on cage, including six-of-seven man-up opportunities.
Due to the loss, Canada falls to 1-2 at the tournament after losing to defending champion Hungary (17-3 L, August 18) and downing South Africa (8-4 W, August 20). Prokhin posted an assist versus Hungary and notched a steal against South Africa.
The World University games feature a total of 16 teams competing for the title as Taiwan/Chinese Taipei, France, the Republic of Korea and Great Britain competed in Pool A. Italy, Australia, the Netherlands and Argentina contested Pool B, with Canada, South Africa, Hungary and Serbia battling in Pool C. The United States, Russia, Japan and Romania squared off in Pool D.
A 2016 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Second Team selection, Prokhin, who holds dual citizenship in both Kazakhstan and Canada after emigrating as a 10-year old and gain citizenship in Canada in 2014, is among only two players on the Canadian roster currently competing at a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institution along with Devon Thumwood of the University of Pacific.
