NEWPORT BEACH - Annika Dries has probably heard the departing line, “See ’ya at school” hundreds of times. But on Sunday night, it just wasn’t going to fit.

So before three-time Olympian Heather Petri, 30, left the pool at Corona del Mar, she simply wished the Laguna Beach senior a good day at school.

“I get to be the young one and get to embrace it,” Dries, 17, said after her impressive debut with the U.S. national women’s water polo team. “It’s fun. (The players) have all been very supportive.”

Dries is certainly doing more than fulfilling her rookie-duties as the team’s “ball girl.”

In her first official match with the reigning Olympic silver medalists, the Stanford-bound center scored once and drew two exclusions to help Team USA handle rival Canada, 10-5, in a preliminary match in the FINA World League.

The Register’s player of the year played the same position she did for the CIF-SS Division II champion Breakers: 2-meter offense.

Dries came on in relief of starting center Kami Craig and scored from center with 26 seconds left in the first period.

She took a well-placed entry pass from Jessica Steffens, quickly turned and blasted a shot into the upper corner past goalie Rachel Riddell (12 saves).

“She’s a heck of a player,” U.S. national coach Adam Krikorian said of Dries. “She’s mature beyond her years. I can’t believe she is a 17-year-old.”

Krikorian, a rookie U.S. head coach himself, will get a reminder of Dries’ youth on the team’s upcoming trip to Russia for the FINA Super Final. Dries said she will be doing some homework on the journey.

“It’s definitely going to be a little double-duty,” said Dries, who returns a few days before graduation June 18.

Dries isn’t complaining.

“I’m just living a dream playing with these girls,” she said.

After falling to Canada, 9-5, in San Diego on Saturday, Team USA bounced back with a convincing effort Sunday to earn Krikorian his first victory. The U.S. team scored the first six goals and nearly shut out Canada in the first half.

“We’re a work in progress,” said Krikorian, who held a tryout/training camp over Memorial Day weekend. “It’s a learning experience for me, too.”

U.S. goalie Betsey Armstrong finished with 10 saves while Lauren Wenger (three goals) and Brenda Villa (two goals) paced the offense.

Team USA’s active defense blocked several shots in the field and also held the Canadians to a 0 for 7 effort on the power play. The play got chippy in second half. With the U.S. leading 10-3 with 2:45 left in the fourth, Steffens, a defender, was called for a brutality for a backcourt altercation with Canadian center Krystina Alogbo (three goals).

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com