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Stanford grad Peter Varellas scored three goals but the U.S. men's national water polo team could not overcome a series of mistakes in falling to top-ranked and defending world champion Italy, 7-6, in the bronze-medal game of the FINA World League Super Final in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

The Super Final was the last major competition before the 2012 London Olympics, which will get under way for the sixth-ranked Americans on July 29 against Montenegro.

The U.S. will also play Romania, Great Britain, Serbia and Hungary in pool play. The quarterfinals are scheduled to get underway on August 8.

"It was a good training for us since we came here looking for improvement game by game," USA's Jeff Powers said. "The ultimate goal is the Olympic gold medal, though we didn't win but it's not the end of the world."

Stanford grad Tony Azevedo converted the lone penalty shot awarded the U.S. with 1:38 remaining in the second period to help bring the Americans within 4-3 at halftime.

Less than a minute into the third period, Jesse Smith scored an even strength goal to tie the game. Italy scored the next two goals, including one with 10 seconds remaining in the third period, en route to the victory.

The Americans had one final chance at tying the game in the closing seconds, but a backhanded attempt hit the crossbar with two seconds left.

The U.S. was 3 for 10 on extra man opportunities while Italy was 4 of 5.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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