By Michael Randazzo, Swimming World Contributor
In an encouraging sign for Head Coach Dejan Udovicic as well as for American water polo fans, on Sunday the U.S. Men’s Senior Team defeated Australia 9-6 in the final of the 2018 FINA Intercontinental Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Led by three goals from Max Irving, who will graduate from UCLA next month, and two from USC freshman Marko Vavic—including a trick play that sealed the win—the victory was a marker of success for a youth movement necessitated by Tony Azevedo’s retirement and uncertainty surrounding other U.S. Olympic veterans.
It was a double gold day at Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre as the American women also won their final over Australia. A 4-1 burst after intermission wiped out a one-goal Aussie lead and proved decisive in the Yanks’ 10-7 victory. That the U.S. women—arguably the most dominant program in the sport—won is no surprise; the major storyline out of Auckland was that the Yanks opened the tournament with a loss to the Stingers.
These tournament wins couldn’t come at a better time for both American squads. Substantial contributions from veterans and relative newcomers alike raise U.S. hopes for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Youngsters lead—with an Olympic assist
For a team looking to change course after a disastrous result at the 2017 FINA World Championships, the U.S. men’s trip to Australia and New Zealand was a sign of better days ahead. After splitting a pair of friendlies against the Sharks on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, the Yanks won four straight matches in the International Cup, including a 12-10 win over the Japanese, who caused much angst among American fans with a win last summer in Budapest.
Leading the way Sunday morning was Irving (11 goals for the tournament). His goals in the first, third and fourth that kept the Aussies at bay, including a bar-in goal against Australia goalie Christian Kyriakou with two minutes remaining in the third period that gave the U.S. its first two-goal lead of the match.
Americans Victorious! Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo
Alex Bowen, an Olympian who is now a stalwart offensive talent, chipped in two goals—part of a haul of 11 scores that was tied with Irving to lead the U.S. Also coming up big in the FINA final was Vavic (7 goals), who put his team ahead at the end of one period, thanks to a great helper from Irving, then victimizing Kyriakou with a minute remaining in the match and his team holding an 8-6 lead. In a water polo variation of baseball’s “hidden ball trick,” the crafty Trojan submerged himself underwater as the Aussie goalie was gathering the ball after a missed shot by Hannes Daube, then suddenly emerged, surprising Kyriakou for a steal and goal that gave the U.S. an insurmountable three-goal.
With 10 goals, Daube—who has yet to graduate from high school—proved to be a key performer throughout the tournament, including in the closing minutes Sunday. In only his second major international tournament, the 6-4, 225 Daube was in the water replacing four-time Olympian Jesse Smith, the burly 6-4, 240 U.S. captain who had fouled out of the match. That Udovicic trusted the 18-year-old to lock down more experienced Australians—at match’s end the Sharks had Olympians Richard Campbell, George Ford, Joe Kayes and Aidan Roach in the water—perhaps demonstrates the U.S. coach’s belief that there’s still time to develop players before the Pan American Games in 2019, where the U.S will look to qualify for a 10th-staraight Olympic berth.
This is not to discount contributions of more experienced Americans down under, who provided necessary international experience for Udovicic’s young squad. Ben Hallock, Alex Obert and Alex Roelse all represented their country at the 2016 Olympics, while Luca Cupido, another Olympian minted in 2016, was called away at the last-minute due to a family situation.
U.S. Women do what they do best: win
If U.S. Head Coach Adam Krikorian’s players appear to be overshadowed by their male counterparts, it’s perhaps because of the American’s incredible run of success that is sustained by what appears to be an unlimited pipeline of talent. There were plenty of U.S. Olympians in the water, including Rachel Fattal, Kaleigh Gilchrist and Melissa Seidemann. But absent were some of the world’s most recognizable players, including Ashleigh Johnson, Maddie Musselman, Mackenzie Fischer and Maggie Steffens, which perhaps explains a momentary stumble in the opening match, when the Yanks dropped a 9-8 decision to a fired-up Stinger squad.
Stephania Haralabidis. Photo Courtesy: USC Athletics
But it’s hard to see the Americans being outclassed in the near future, and their 10-7 win in a finals rematch with the Aussies underscores just how much talent exists in the deep pool of U.S. women’s polo. Gilchrist delivered three scores, while newcomer Stephania Haralabidis (team-high 15 goals) also collected a hat trick, as the U.S. won the Intercontinental Cup for the third time in the past four years. In fact, outside of a loss to Australia in the finals of last year’s FINA Intercontinental tournament, the U.S. women have not lost an international tournament since the 2014 Cup, when Australia captured gold with a 7-5 win.
If Udovcic is able to consistently mine—and retain after their college years are completed—America’s best male players, the prospects for combined Olympic success for the U.S men and women will increase dramatically. Certainly, a double gold down under provides hope for the future.
?♂️??♀️?USWP!
?♂️??♀️?USWP!
Hi Malcom:
I like it! What’s your design for if the US Men and Women BOTH medal in Tokyo?!
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