FINAL WATER POLO: SUPER FINAL: U.S. TAKES BIG BITE OUT OF KAZAKHSTAN ROUGH TACTICS DON'T FAZE AMERICANS U.S. 10, KAZAKHSTAN 4.Byline: A.J. Perez Staff Writer LONG BEACH - The score wasn't the clearest indicator just how tough a match it was for the U.S. when it went up against Kazakhstan on the opening day of the FINA FINA Fédération Internationale de Natation (French: International Swimming Federation; Lausanne, Switzerland; formerly Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur) Women's Water Polo water polo, swimming game encompassing features of soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. The object of the game is to maneuver, by head, feet, or hand, a leather-covered ball 27 to 28 in. Super Final Wednesday. A look at the right hand of U.S. center Ellen Estes Ellen Marie Estes (born October 13, 1978 in Portland, Oregon) is an American water polo player, who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Estes scored three goals during the bronze medal game against Australia. was the best gauge. Estes showed off her right hand, which had signs of a bite mark after the U.S.'s 10-4 victory in front of 1,696 at the Charter All-Digital Aquatic Centre on Wednesday. ``It was definitely uncalled for,'' said Estes, who had two goals to go along with the bite marks. ``It was interesting to see that we pushed them past their breaking point. Biting is just a pure sign of frustration. It's not water polo at all.'' Estes said no foul was called for the bite, which she estimated occurred sometime in the second half. Kazakhstan was called for nine fouls and had one player, Nikovan Krassilnikova, ejected from the contest. Commerce's Brenda Villa Brenda Villa (born April 18, 1980 in Los Angeles, California) is a Mexican-American world-class water polo player for the US National and Olympic teams. Villa started swimming with a club team, Commerce Aquatics, at the age of six, and followed her brother into water polo at scored the game's first goal three minutes "Three Minutes" is the 46th episode of Lost. It is the twenty-second episode of the second season. The episode was directed by Stephen Williams, and written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. It first aired on May 17, 2006 on ABC. into the game from a pass from Natalie Golda Natalie Golda (born December 28, 1981 in La Habra, California) is an American water polo player. Considered one of the greatest women's water polo players of all time, her senior leadership helped guide the 2005 UCLA Bruins to their seventh national championship. , who scored two goals herself. Kazakhstan tied it with 3:45 left in the first quarter before the U.S. pulled ahead for good on Estes' first goal with 49 seconds remaining in the first. Estes goal also started a string of five unanswered goals by the U.S., which was capped by Ericka Lorenz Ericka Denise Lorenz (born February 18, 1981 in San Diego, California) is an American water polo player, who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. 2:19 into the third quarter. Her goal on the 6-on-5 advantage gave the U.S. a 6-1 lead. Kazakhstan finally ended its scoreless streak - which reached 17 minutes, 19 seconds - with a power play goal at 5:56 of the third quarter. ``It was a very good first game,'' U.S. center/defender Amber Stachowski Amber Val Stachowski (born March 14, 1983 in Mission Viejo, California) is an American water polo player for the UCLA Bruins and the US National Team, who won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her position is center defender. said. ``Both teams pressed and it was very physical.'' As a whole, the Americans seemed to take the bruising game of Kazakhstan coupled with the longer quarters in stride Adv. 1. in stride - without losing equilibrium; "she took all his criticism in stride" in good spirits . ``The nine minute quarters can be factor,'' said Stachowski, referring to the World League rules calling for 9-minute quarters instead of the typical 7. ``But we are a very well conditioned team. We could have played another quarter.'' U.S. coach Guy Baker said: ``We did well with the conditioning aspect of the game. But we'll be able to get a better grasp of that as the week goes on.'' Kazakhstan's Marina Gritsenko led all scorers with three goals. Next on tap for the Americans is Russia, which defeated Greece earlier Wednesday. ``Russia will cause a few more problems,'' Baker said. ``Sofya Konukh is really tough defensively and Olga Turova does a good job on offense. We'll have to play better tomorrow night to win.'' A.J. Perez, (562) 499-1338 aj.perez(at)presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: U.S. women's water polo player Kelly Rulon looks to make a pass against Kazakhstan on Wednesday, the first day of the FINA Women's Water Polo Super Finals in Long Beach. Steve Georges/Staff Photographer |
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