Women of Troy Push USA Within Medal Reach
August 15, 2008 | Women's Water Polo
Aug. 15, 2008
WATCH TROJAN OLYMPIC UPDATE #1
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Although all five are first-time Olympians, USC's squadron of U.S. women's water polo Olympic teamers wasted little time making an impact for Team USA in Beijing. Thanks to a grand total of 14 goals in three games from past and present Trojans, the United States has secured the top slop in its group, grabbing a quarterfinal bye and an automatic ticket to the semifinals for a guaranteed shot at a medal. USC's five U.S. Olympians - Patty Cardenas, Kami Craig, Brittany Hayes, Lauren Wenger and Moriah Van Norman - have all scored for the USA in its undefeated start to Olympic action.
Team USA's Olympic opener put the United States up against host China, which has proven a formidable opponent in the group. In the USA's tight 12-11 win, seven goals came from Trojan hands. USC junior Kami Craig tallied a hat trick for Team USA, while Brittany Hayes punched in two and Moriah Van Norman and Lauren Wenger had a goal apiece to help propel the United States to victory over the home team.
Two days later, three Trojans scored in a 9-9 tie with Italy. Patty Cardenas scored her first Olympic goal in the match, while Hayes notched another two and Craig powered in her third of the Games. Although already certain to move out of group play, the United States wanted a big win over Russia in order to push for the top slot and an automatic place in the semifinals. A widespread scoring attack helped seal the deal on a 12-7 USA win over Russia behind goals from Cardenas, Hayes and van Norman. In that match, the USA's Women of Troy clashed with another decorated former Trojan in Russia's leading scorer and three-time Olympian Sofia Konoukh. Konoukh tallied two goals for Russia in the losing effort. She had also scored a goal in each of Russia's previous games - losses to Italy and China.
But the USA's five Trojans are not the only USC athletes to power on in the Olympic women's water polo competition. Hungary's powerful Aniko Pelle - a two-time Olympian - has come up big as well. Pelle has scored eight goals in three games for Hungary to push the Hungarians to the top of their group, also securing a quarterfinal bye and semifinal slot. Playing in opposite semifinals, the USA and Hungary have the potential to clash in a medal game, leaving open the opportunity for six Trojans to leave Beijing with Olympic hardware.
Women's water polo semifinals are scheduled for August 19 in Beijing, with medal games held August 21.
Keep tabs on the Trojans in Beijing... visit nbcolympics.com and usawaterpolo.org.
