Women’s Water Polo: Team USA sluggish in loss
The United States women’s senior national water polo team is plenty familiar with the Netherlands.
The top two teams in the world had played each other seven times this year headed into Wednesday’s Holiday Cup game at Corona del Mar High. Team USA, the top-ranked team, had won every time, including in the final of the FINA World Championships in Russia in August. On Sunday, Team USA beat the Netherlands by two goals in a tournament tune-up game at Mira Costa High.
But it was the Netherlands that came out firing Wednesday night. And not even a late rally could help the United States avoid a 9-8 loss that helped to illustrate the parity in the women’s game with next summer’s Olympic Games looming.
After two games in the round-robin tournament that runs through Sunday at CdM, all four participating teams — the U.S., the Netherlands, Italy and Spain — have a 1-1 record.
“That’s not surprising to me,” U.S. Coach Adam Krikorian said. “I think these teams are four of the best teams in the world. That’s why we invited these three teams, and it shows the parity that’s in the women’s game today. It’s exciting stuff. I think it’s going to make for a very exciting European Championships for them, an exciting [Olympic] qualification for all of us and hopefully an exciting Olympic Games.”
What was surprising to Krikorian was the lack of energy from Team USA, which was coming off a 9-4 victory over Italy in the tournament opener Monday.
“Sometimes with this group I think we get a little ahead of ourselves,” Krikorian said. “Today, I don’t think there was any appreciation for the effort and the attitude that is required to be successful. We clearly wanted to put in the least amount of effort possible to get by, and against a great team like Holland, you can’t afford to do that. Give them a lot of credit. They played with a lot of energy and confidence.”
Yasemin Smite led everyone with four goals for the Netherlands, while Lieke Klaassen and lefty Vivian Sevenich scored two goals each.
Courtney Mathewson and Maggie Steffens each scored twice for Team USA, and former Corona del Mar High star Maddie Musselman had a late goal and a steal. Former Newport Harbor and USC standout Kaleigh Gilchrist also played for Team USA.
Steffens scored the game’s first goal in the first quarter, but the Netherlands scored less than a minute later and Team USA would never lead again.
The Netherlands scored five straight goals after Team USA’s Ashley Johnson scored on a power move from center, tying the score at 4-4 with 4:55 left in the third quarter. Klaassen capped the run by scoring twice early in the fourth quarter, one on the power play, and suddenly the Netherlands was up, 9-4.
Team USA, which finished just one of eight on the power play and made one of two penalty shots, tried to rally. Mathewson and Kami Craig both scored, then Musselman added her team’s only power-play strike with 1:37 left on an assist from KK Clark. Musselman’s lob cut the deficit to 9-7.
But Clark’s chance inside rattled off the left post with a minute left, meaning Steffens’ goal with eight seconds remaining left Team USA a goal short.
The Netherlands finished three for 11 with the extra player and converted both of its penalty shots.
“I just don’t think we came out as hard as we could have in the beginning,” Musselman said, agreeing with her coach. “I don’t think we were too comfortable with the past games, but I think that was kind of in our minds, how we played against them and won. We just didn’t come out as hard as we could have, and they capitalized on the opportunities that we gave them.”
Musselman, the 2013-14 Newport-Mesa Player of the Year for CdM, clearly is enjoying the opportunity to play back at her home pool. Earlier Wednesday, she also was interviewed for “The Counter Attack,” a video program produced by USA Water Polo.
“It’s very inspiring,” she said. “I think it’s very cool, because I’ve been playing here all my life, since I was 8. It’s kind of cool to come back and see the growth of the program. Knowing that I was a part of it, and still am, is a pretty cool feeling. I get to play here at all different levels. I started in 10-and-unders here, high school, and now being able to play at the international level in the same pool is pretty unique.”
The Team USA women continue tournament action Thursday, when they play against Spain at 6:30 p.m. That will be followed by the U.S. men’s senior national team game against Croatia at 8 p.m.
On Friday, CdM plays Newport Harbor in the annual Battle of the Bay game at 5 p.m., which will precede Team USA against Italy at 7:30 p.m.
Musselman, who now attends online school, just smiled when asked if she will watch any of the Battle of the Bay game.
“Hopefully I’ll try to catch a few plays while I can,” she said. “It’s going to be a pretty packed day. I’ve been invited on Facebook, and I said I was going. I’ll try to watch a little bit, but I don’t want to get too distracted. It should be a good one though.”
