The U.S. Olympic Team for Women’s Water Polo is headed back to the Gold Medal game for the first time since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney following their thrilling semi-final victory over Australia 9-8. Team captain Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA) scored the game winner with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter to help stave off a furious Australia rally.
In reaching the medal round for the third straight Olympics they are the first women’s team to accomplish such a feat and enter some exclusive company as only six men’s teams have equaled that feat. In addition they are attempting to win consecutive major championships in women’s water polo which has not been accomplished since the Netherlands won the World Championships in 1991 and then the World Cup in 1993.
Team USA will take on the Netherlands for the right to wear Gold at 6:20pm on Thursday, August 21 at the Ying Dong Natatorium. The Netherlands made their way into the final after defeating Hungary in the semi-final 8-7. The United States and the Netherlands are no strangers to each other as the two shared a four day camp in Da Xing, China upon their arrival in the country in preparation for the Olympics.
Both teams have come along way since then as the United States has gone undefeated thus far claiming victories over China, Russia, and Australia while tying Italy en route to the Gold Medal game. On the flip side the Dutch having persevered despite two losses and were able to knock off Greece, Russia, and the Hungarians, avenging an earlier loss in the tourney.
The United States and the Netherlands last got together on December 6, 2007 at the Holiday Cup in Long Beach, CA. The Netherlands were victorious in that game 8-5. Prior to that they met in the first match of the FINA World Championships back on March 19, 2007 with the United States claiming a 9-7 victory. Regardless USA Head Coach Guy Bakers knows his team is in for a challenge, “We had a four day camp with them at Da Xing when we first arrived in China, so we have spent a little time together. They are playing great, they beat Russia to qualify to get here and they are a very good team under pressure," he said
March 19, 2007 USA Wins 9-7 – FINA World Championships – Melbourne, Australia
Team USA gets two goals apiece from Natalie Golda and Heather Petri in defeating the Netherlands in the first match of the FINA World Championships. Betsey Armstrong posted eight saves in net. A decisive third quarter for the United States where they outscored the Dutch 4-2 proved to be the difference maker
December 6, 2007 Netherlands Wins 8-5 – Holiday Cup – Long Beach, CA
The Netherlands continued their hot start at the Holiday Cup as they knocked off the United States 8-5 in their second game giving the Dutch wins over the top two ranked teams in the world after yesterday's victory over Australia. USA had opened up a 2-1 lead in the first quarter but that was short lived as the Netherlands came back in the second and tied the score and then went up 4-2. A goal by Heather Petri drew the score to within one at 4-3. In the third the game continued to see saw as the USA got to within a score but then fell back down by two at 6-4 with play moving to the fourth. In the fourth it was all Netherlands as they ran off two straight goals before an Erika Figge score stopped the momentum. That tally came with just 1:10 remaining and the game had already been decided. Figge led USA with three scores while Jaime Hipp went the whole way in net impounding nine shots.
