 Team Europe |
After 11 tours with Team Europe in the annual Mosconi Cup, Ralf Souquet
finally realized the exultation of pocketing the Cup-clinching 9 ball,
defeating Rodney Morris, 6-4, to earn the Euros just their third
Mosconi Cup title in 14 years.
Souquet's win gave Team Europe, which had entered the final day with a
9-6 advantage, split four matches with Team USA to close with an 11-8
margin of victory. Shane Van Boening and Earl Strickland kept U.S.
hopes alive with wins over Russian Kostantin Stepanov and Brit Daryl
Peach, respectively. But Tony Drago's 6-3 win over Johnny Archer put
the Euros on the hill, and Souquet put the finishing touches on the
upset.
“You win as a team,” said Souquet, who was mobbed by his teammates,
“and, as I know well, you lose as a team. But it was a great honor to
be the one to pocket the final 9 ball at the Mosconi Cup.”
“We really didn't play well at all this year,” said Team USA's Johnny
Archer. “And I, personally, played absolutely awful. I really hurt our
team this year.”
