Steffens gave the Americans a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and the United States held off every Hungarian charge thanks to goalkeeper Ashley Johnson’s eight saves and a flawless conversion rate on all four power-play shots.
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The Americans became the first women’s water polo team to repeat as Olympic champions, displaying the same championship form that helped the US win 40 of its 42 matches this year.
The U.S.is averaging just over 12 goals a game.
HollywoodLifers, how cool are the American ladies of water polo?
Italy (15-7-1 all-time at the Olympics) is no stranger to championship play. Johnson overcame an apparently nervous start a game after she and her teammates allowed 10 goals by the Hungarians – the most all tournament – in their semi-final win.
Tania Di Mario is the inspirational leader of the Italians.
As the defending world champion and heavy favorite entering the tournament, the US knows exactly what it wants.
Adam Krikorian commented, “We were complete offensively and complete in terms of our effort”. He then kicked the red buoy off the pool deck for good measure.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next four years”, Steffens said, “but this is too incredible, incredible of an opportunity to call yourself an Olympian with a team, a real team, not just people that are thrown together, but a team that has grown together, to pass up again”. But this scene had to be one Krikorian will remember for a long time. They went 6-0 in Rio and outscored opponents 73-27 overall. Hungary narrowed their deficit with a backhanded shot from Bujka that went right over US goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson’s shoulder.
The win comes less than 24 hours after Walsh Jennings lost on the Olympic beach for the first time in 27 matches over four Summer Games.
Even when Steffens isn’t having a great game, the US team is deeper than any other in the tournament.
Stanford senior Maggie Steffens leads the USA with 16 goals.
Steffens, the team captain, was selected as the MVP of the Olympic Games, a honor she also received in 2012.
Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson was the real star, however, making nine saves from the 13 shots she faced. She’s an excellent player but even a better leader.
“We always knew she was a gifted athlete and she’s an awesome athlete in the water and out of the water”, former water polo coach Robin Escobedo said. “Maggie will be the first one to tell you though that she can’t do it by herself”. “We played completely different than the game’s ever been played before”. Maddie Musselman and Kiley Neushul also had two goals each.
Italy did what they’ve done all tournament – played great defense and scored just enough to win.
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The win meant a second gold medal for returning Olympian Courtney Mathewson, who played at Canyon High and UCLA.
