UC Irvine alum Ryan Bailey scored three goals but the USA Men's National Team was edged by Hungary, 9-8, in a quarterfinal game Tuesday at the FINA World Championships.
Bailey, a three-time Olympian, scored the first two goals of the game and Tim Hutten, an `Eater alum and 2008 Olympian, scored a goal in the second quarter to help the U.S. lead 5-4 at halftime.
Bailey converted a power-play goal in the third quarter to put the Americans up 7-6 before the Hungarians tied the game entering the final period.
Hungary, the defending Olympic champion, scored the first two goals in the fourth quarter and held on for the victory.
Another UCI alum and two-time Olympian, Jeff Powers, is also a member of the U.S. Team.
A victory would have meant a berth for the U.S. in the 2012 Olympic Games, but with the loss, the team will now enter the 5th-8th place bracket and look to the Pan American Games this October as its next opportunity to qualify for London.
Next game for the U.S. is Thursday against Germany, which defeated the Americans, 9-7, in group play earlier.
