Trojans Lift USA To Olympic Berth
July 23, 2007 | Women's Water Polo
July 23, 2007
Thanks in large part to the efforts of five USC women's water polo players, the United States has secured a berth at the 2008 Olympic Games. Members of the U.S. women's water polo national team, USC current and former athletes Patty Cardenas, Kami Craig, Erika Figge, Moriah Van Norman and Lauren Wenger all helped Team USA claim gold at the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro. As Pan-American champions, the United States is assured a place in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing.
After also winning gold at the FINA Super Final in Montreal, the U.S. squad moved on to Rio and continued its winning streak with an undefeated run through Pan-American competition. All five Trojan athletes registered goals in the tournament, highlighting a strong and balanced offense displayed by the United States team. Also on deck for the competition was former USC goalie Bernice Orwig, who is a 2000 Olympian and now an assistant coach for Team USA. USC sophomore Kami Craig and 2006 grad Lauren Wenger were two of three U.S. players finishing with a team-high 12 goals through the tournament. 2006 grad Moriah Van Norman was next in line, delivering 11 goals for the USA. 2007 seniors Erika Figge and Patty Cardenas also got on the board. Figge completed the tourney with eight goals, and Cardenas - who suffered stitches in her foot during the early stages of a 13-2 win over Puerto Rico - scored three goals. In the gold-medal game, Wenger and Figge each added a goal to help the United States pass up continental rival Canada in a 6-4 win that secured an Olympic trip for Team USA.
During the competition, each USC athlete managed a big game for the USA. Craig set the tone - and a high bar for her teammates - with a six-goal outing in the United States' opening game against Venezuela. The Trojan sophomore was 100 percent on her six goals out of the tough two-meter position in the game - a 21-3 win. Cardenas nailed a multiple-goal game of her own next for the USA, tallying a pair in a 14-6 win over Cuba. Against Puerto Rico, Figge came up big for Team USA, slamming in five goals in a 13-2 victory. And in the semifinal clash with Cuba, 2006 grads Van Norman and Wenger each pumped in four goals to account for half the USA's goals in a 16-3 win that punched a ticket to the gold-medal game.
Craig gets to pull double-duty now, as her age also puts her in the bracket for the U.S. Junior National Team. Craig and fellow Trojan teammate Forel Davies are now in Portugal to compete at the 2007 FINA Junior World Championships.
The Trojan national teamers will break from training for a month before returning to the pool for Team USA as they continue preparation for the 2008 Olympics and work to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic Team roster.
