OLYMPICS WATER POLO: BRONZE MEDAL IS CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR U.S.Byline: Mirjam Swanson Staff Writer ATHENS, Greece - This time, the U.S. 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. team just wouldn't let go. After blowing a lead and a chance for gold in Tuesday's semifinal game against Italy, the top-ranked Americans sputtered again Thursday against Australia before holding on for a 6-5 victory that gave them the bronze medal. ``I guess we like a little drama,'' U.S. attacker Heather Petri Heather Petri (born June 13, 1978 in Oakland, California) is an American water polo player, who won the silver medal with the US Women's National Team at the 2000 Summer Olympics and also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Her position is attacker. said. ``It slipped away for a little while. At least no one panicked. We just had to work harder to pull it together. But just once, I'd like to play a game free of drama.'' Australia scored four consecutive goals to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. But 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. scored her third goal of the game with just more than two minutes remaining. The victory wasn't gold. Italy won that by beating Greece 10-9 in overtime on Thursday. But the Americans had a medal. ``They (the U.S. players) have outworked every team in the world and everybody here knows that,'' U.S. assistant coach Kyle Kopp said. ``To come back after what they went through against Italy, this is our gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize . ``It's not the color we wanted; they took that away from us Tuesday, but everybody knows who the best team in the world is.'' The Americans arrived in Athens as the team to beat. They placed in the top four of all four major tournaments since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where they finished with silver. One of their two losses here was against the rough-and-tumble Italians for the right to go to the gold-medal game. The Italians' late rally on Tuesday was capped by a goal with 2.8 seconds remaining. The Americans were crushed. On Wednesday, U.S. coach Guy Baker told his players he didn't want them to go home without a medal. ``This is the last time we're going to play together,'' said U.S. center Heather Moody Heather Moody (born August 21, 1973 in Rexburg, Idaho) is an American water polo player, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was team captain of the US Women's National Team that captured the bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and the only , one of several players planning to retire. ``Coach brought that up, and there were some tears, but we needed that to regroup re·group v. re·grouped, re·group·ing, re·groups v.tr. To arrange in a new grouping. v.intr. 1. To come back together in a tactical formation, as after a dispersal in a retreat. , to be able to focus on Australia.'' By halftime against the Australians, the U.S. was in good shape. UCLA's 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. scored first, taking advantage of an Australian ejection just a minute into the quarter. Estes took a perfect pass on a breakaway from Margaret Dingeldein Margaret Dingeldein (born May 30, 1980 in Merced, California) is an American water polo player who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her position is attacker, and she is considered an excellent perimeter shooter. and sank a turnaround shot with 4:02 remaining in the half. Then, 2003 UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX graduate Robin Beauregard Robin Mary Beauregard (born February 23, 1979 in Long Beach, 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. Beauregard plays the position of center defender. skipped in a shot with 3:05 to go. Amber Stachowsk, a member of the 2004 Bruins, got away on a solo breakaway with 2:02 left and fired a shot under the arm of Australian goalkeeper Jemma Brownlow. But with this U.S. team, at least at these Olympics, no lead was safe. Even after Estes responded to Australia's quick score to start the second half with a goal of her own, the Aussies mounted their comeback. But Estes, who came out of retirement to work with Kopp, scored the winning goal with 2:20 left in her Olympic career. As the shot went in, she lifted herself out of the water and pumped her fist - partly in celebration, partly in relief. ``The bronze-medal game is the hardest game you could play,'' said Beauregard, who also will retire. ``Because there's no consolation prize for getting fourth, and you don't want to leave with nothing.'' Mirjam Swanson, (909) 386-3865 mirjam.swanson(at)sbsun.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion