Olympic Men’s Water Polo: Adrian Weinberg Sensational as U.S. Tops Hungary for Bronze

Team USA stands on the podium Sunday after winning the bronze medal in the men's water polo competition; Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Olympic Men’s Water Polo: Adrian Weinberg Sensational as U.S. Tops Hungary for Bronze

Adrian Weinberg made 16 saves, including one in the shootout, as the United States topped Hungary, 11-8, on Sunday for the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Weinberg made two saves in the final two minutes of regulation, after Hannes Daube’s goal tied the game at eight.

In the shootout, Daube scored to give the Americans the edge. Denes Varga’s attempt missed, then Max Irving scored to make it 10-8 and Weinberg responded with a save of Vince Vigvari. Alex Bowen converted his attempt, and Gergo Zalanki hit the post to Weinberg’s right to clinch the U.S. men’s first medal since it fell to Hungary in the gold-medal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Right now, I’m lost for words,” Daube said. “I’m just super proud of my team just believing in me throughout the whole game. They kept telling me, ‘You got this, you got this’, until the fourth quarter, and I happened to deliver for my guys.”

“It’s amazing. Big, big win for not just our sport, but our country as well,” Weinberg said. “I mean, when’s the last time we won a medal – 2008. So very happy, proud of these guys, to be part of the group that has done this. I’m very excited for LA.”

“I’m just really proud of each of the guys that have been involved in this journey and all the support and to go home with the bronze medal – it’s something I dreamed of since I was a little kid, so I’m just super excited and happy for these guys, honestly.”

The U.S. led 4-3 at half, but goals by Varga and Vigvari handed Hungary a 5-4 edge three minutes into the third quarter. Ben Hallock and Max Irving replied to put the U.S. up 6-5 by the end of the frame.

Hungary’s spurt to start the fourth almost was enough to take home the medal. Adam Nagy tied the game 49 seconds into the fourth, and Zalanki put Hungary up with 4:45 to play. Zalanki then set up Daniel Angyal’s power-play tally with 3:22 left to make it 3-2.

But the U.S. wasn’t done. Bowen scored off a Chase Dodd feed on the power play 23 seconds later, then Daube converted on the power play from Ryder Dodd with 1:59 left to send the game to penalties.

“We all focused up,” Chase Dodd said. “We said, ‘we are not out of this yet, there are still three minutes to go, we have come down by way more in bigger games, like come on, this is our game, we got to do it, let’s go.’ This was kind of motivation for us, and also, we have nothing to lose here.”

Daube (on 2-for-2 shooting), Hallock, Bowen and Irving scored twice each for the U.S. Bowen had two assists, Irving one. Weinberg’s 16 saves, though, made him the star.

“He’s incredible,” Daube said. “I think he’s going to be the best goalie in the world. So I believe in him the whole time. The guy’s outstanding.”

Zalanki led Hungary with two goals and five assists. Varga also scored twice, but he and Zalanki were a combined 4-for-14 shooting. Marton Vamos was held to 0-for-5 shooting. Soma Vogel made eight stops in regulation.

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