US Women's Water Polo Team Wins With GOLD-a!

The Chinese were playing with their hearts and souls, but the USA women would not back down, matching them score for score. 1-0. 1-1. 1-2. 2-2. 2-3. 3-3. This was getting tough.

Again another tie at 5-5, and the USA and China were showing that neither was going to back down or go under. Natalie Golda already had 3 goals for the United States team.

6-5 US!! Nope. 6-6. Wow. 7-6 US!! Nope 7-7. Yikes. 8-7 US!! And finally a 2 goal margin at 9-7!

9-8, Uh oh. 10-8. Phew. 10-9. You have to be kidding!!!! 10-10. Oh C’mon! 11-10 China. OK, now we are starting to get worried. 11-11.

With 3 minutes to go the US scored again. Lauren Wenger made a perfect pitch past the Chinese goaltender for a score. 12-11. Lauren’s score would win the game.

The Chinese came down and made a wonderful shot. It barely missed hitting the left post, and the Chinese returned to defense.

China had earned major respect. This is a US team that had held opposing teams to single digits for 8 consecutive years. Oh my!

The US pulled it out 12-11. Natalie Golda finished with 4 goals.

Men’s Waterpolo Team Stymies Italians

The USA played Italy in Waterpolo and it was a relatively high scoring affair. With 6 minutes to go in the 4th, the US team led 9-7.

Team USA’s #4, Jeffrey Powers, threw a side-arm and skipped the ball past Italy’s goaltender for his second goal and a 10-7 lead.

The US team would need the cushion, as Italy charged back bring it to 10-9 and generating a look of concern on the US coach.

Lyne Beaubien, #7, positioned himself dead center in front of the net. Within a split second of receiving the ball, he pitched a hard shot on goal and scored for the US, bringing them back to a 2 point lead 11-9.

That would prove to be enough for the US squad, but Italy was not done. After an exchange of goals, the Italian team drove back with just over a minute left and scored to bring the score to 12-11.

The US burned the clock down to 24 seconds before giving Italy possession. Italy took a time out to set up at least one shot. Italy was on a power play for the bottom 15 seconds and could not get off a shot in time as the clock ran down.

US 12-11 in a nail-biter, and the US remains undefeated at 2-0.