The little dark cloud that has been hanging over the U.S. women’s water polo team for much of the last four years drifted away Thursday in the bronze-medal game.
When the last Australian shot, with 11 seconds left, skimmed once and was cradled by goalie Jackie Frank, the team that couldn’t hold on finally had. The U.S. defeated Australia 6-5 and, in some measure, softened memories of Sydney in 2000 and Italy two days ago.
But when a 5-1 lead had been converted to a 5-5 tie early in the fourth period, fans of this team and the sport had to be raising eyebrows.
The history is as follows:
In the closing seconds of the gold-medal game in Sydney, with the score tied, a confusing call distracted the U.S. long enough to allow Australia’s Yvette Higgins an opening to fire in a winning goal. When it hit the net, the clock showed 1.2 seconds left.
Tuesday the U.S. got a tying goal from Ellen Estes in the semifinals against Italy, then had the ball for the last possession. But an unusual offensive foul was called, giving the ball back to Italy and, in a final flurry, Maneula Zanchi fired in a winning goal. When it hit the net, the clocked showed two seconds.
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So, if Thursday’s victory over Australia wasn’t redemption, it was something close to that for U.S. women’s water polo and coach Guy Baker.
“At 5-1, it was kind of like, here we go again,” Baker said. “But I kept telling them to play in the now.
“This is a tough group, a bunch of perfectionists. After they won a silver medal [in Sydney], they all thought they had had a bad Olympics. I have told them now that this is an Olympic medal, something to enjoy, something you have for the rest of your life.”
The opportunity to medal this year came when Joanne Fox was sent to the penalty box, giving the U.S. a six-on-five, water polo’s version of a power play. The ball went quickly from Kelly Rulon to Ellen Estes, who was being mauled as she held her space about 5 yards from the goal. The pass was perfect, Estes gathered it and fired in one motion. It was 6-5, but the nervousness wasn’t over.
Finally, it came down to Melissa Rippon of Australia, ball held high in her hand, firing away for one last chance. This time, after one scary skim, the bounce went the U.S. way. Right into Frank’s arms.
In the end, bronze felt pretty good.
“It was awesome,” Estes said.