BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Fordham University rising sophomore Andras Toth (Pecs, Hungary/PTE Babits Gyakorlo Gimnazium) assisted Hungary in turning back Italy, 13-10, while Princeton University rising sophomore Gavin Appeldorn (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor), United States Naval Academy rising junior Kiefer Black (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) and Brown University men’s water polo head coach/Director of Water Polo/Team USA assistant coach Felix Mercado were part of a 19-18 victory by the United States in a penalty shootout against Serbia as both squads reach the semifinals of the World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Princeton rising sophomore Ádám Peocz (Fr., Budapest, Hungary) did not appear in the game for Hungary.
Box scores of the tournament’s games are available by CLICKING HERE.
The victories advance the Hungarians and Americans to a 8:30 p.m. local/2:30 p.m. Eastern semifinal clash on Friday, June 20. Spain – which knocked off Montenegro, 23-9 – and Croatia – which defeated Greece, 14-11 – will meet in the other semifinal at 7:00 p.m. local/1:00 p.m. Eastern.
It will mark the second meeting of the tournament for Hungary and the United States as the Hungarians eluded the Americans by a 13-12 score on Sunday, June 15, in a Group A contest. Appeldorn posted a steal for Team USA in the loss. Toth shot one-for-three with a steal and a field block, while Peocz also shot one-for-three with an assist for the victorious Hungarians.
Facing Italy in the tournament quarterfinals, Toth shot zero-for-one with a steal and a field block in 12:35 to assist his homeland in booting the Italians into the consolation side of the bracket.
Appeldorn posted 8:10 of playing time for the Americans in the victory over Serbia, while Black shot zero-for-one with an assist in 2:41 of competition
