Publication Date: Friday, July 02, 2004
WATER POLO
USA men happy to be home
USA men happy to be home
(July 02, 2004) Azevedo's three goals sparks U.S. squad past Australia, 10-7
by Rick Eymer
The United States men's water polo team is finally spending some quality time at home, and it hopes to take advantage of the situation.
Team USA hosts the Men's FINA World League, including the Super Finals, through July 18 at various venues throughout Southern California.
The United States opened play on Wednesday night with a 10-7 victory over Australia at the Charter All-Digital Aquatic Centre in Long Beach.
"It's nice to be home in front of the U.S. fans," said Team USA goalie Genai Kerr. "It was amazing."
The same two teams were scheduled to meet again on Thursday evening.
The U.S. and Hungary will meet Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Corona del Mar High as part of a doubleheader. Australia and Serbia and Montenegro play at 1:30 p.m.
Team USA also plays Hungary on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Coggan Family Aquatic Center in La Jolla, preceded by another Australia vs. Serbia and Montenegro at 6:30 p.m.
The Americans have spent 44 of the previous 50 days overseas, losing four straight, including a 13-7 decision to Serbia and Montenegro on Friday, in league play before hosting the World League.
"We just needed to get back home," said Team USA captain and Stanford grad Wolf Wigo.
American coach Ratko Rudic, who has coached Yugoslavia to a pair of gold medals and Italy to a gold medal, says the United States has been gearing its practices with an eye on Athens.
"We have been training very hard all the way through the FINA World League," he said. "We have a plan and that plan is to be in the best possible shape for the Olympic Games. The FINA World League is a good opportunity for us to evaluate where we are but we will not interrupt our training schedule for these games. As such, there will always be some fatigue to fight."
The Americans have achieved some success overseas before losing their previous four games. Team USA won three of four games from host Greece and became the first team in 24 years to beat Russia in its Olympic Pool in Moscow while taking second in an international tournament there earlier in June.
Stanford senior Tony Azevedo scored three goals in the victory over Australia.
"The biggest strength was our defense," Azevedo said. "It we constantly move, it is going to be hard for the other team to score.
Stanford grad Wolf Wigo put the Americans ahead to stay with a goal late in the first period. Stanford grad Peter Hudnut also scored.
"We were very disciplined in the first two quarters," said Rudic. "We continued to play but we weren't as consistent as we needed to be on offense in the second half."
Women
Menlo School coach Kyle Utsumi went from the video booth to the coaching deck as he prepares his United States Junior Women's National team for the Junior Pan American Games, which begin July 17 in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Utsumi spent the previous two weeks helping with scouting video for the U.S. Olympic women's team at the FINA World League Super Finals in Long Beach.
"This is a group with a lot of experience," Utsumi said of the junior Americans. "We haven't played together yet, but I'm confident that we can get the crucial parts of the game together. Our goal there will be to qualify for World Championships."
Stanford sophomore Meridith McColl serves as one of two goalies for the team, along with UCLA's Emily Feher.
Olympic alternate Gabbie Domanic is also playing with the junior team.
Stanford sophomores Christina Hewko and Allison Gregorka are also on the junior team.
The goal is to reach the Junior World Championships, which will be held in Perth, Australia in January.
Junior Olympics
Three Stanford Water Polo Club girls' teams won their respective divisions at the Pacific Zone Qualifying Tournament for the National Junior Olympics. The 18-under girls went 4-0 during qualifying last weekend at Acalanes High, defeating San Jose Splash in the finals, 7-1. The 16-under girls went 6-0, topped by a 5-4 win over Golden Bear in the finals, to capture their tournament. And, the 14-under squad also went 6-0, topping Marin by 9-2 in the finals, to easily qualify for the Junior Olympics, which will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in August.
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