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Water Polo: McLaren, Papa, Kapana help Team USA advance

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Newport Harbor High graduate Maddy McLaren, Corona del Mar senior Cassidy Papa and Newport Harbor sophomore Carlee Kapana have helped the United States women’s water polo youth national team win its group at the FINA Youth World Championships in Perth, Australia.

Team USA went 2-1 in Group C. The Americans defeated India, 34-0, and Hungary, 8-6, before losing to Italy, 10-9. Hungary and Italy also finished 2-1 in the group but Team USA won tiebreakers to win the group.

McLaren, who now plays at UCLA, has scored twice in the three games so far. Papa has scored once and Kapana has seen time in goal.

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The Americans play in the women’s quarterfinals Thursday against New Zealand. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Perth, which is 2:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The U.S. men’s water polo youth national team, featuring Corona del Mar High senior Reid Chase, is also in action in Australia. Team USA lost its first game to Hungary, 10-9, but rebounded to top Egypt, 14-4, on Tuesday. Chase scored twice in the victory.

The U.S. men defeated Canada, 17-5, in their final Group A game. Chase scored a goal in the win. They finished second in the group and have a quarterfinal play-in game against either Brazil or Kazakhstan on Wednesday at 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Jason Lynch, the former Newport Harbor High coach, is the head coach of the Team USA men.

— Matt Szabo

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