On Friday, not long after his players put their gold medals around his neck, Krikorian’s thoughts once again turned to his brother. He was one of three double-digit scorers for the USA, with Kevin Durant adding 14 points and Kyrie Irving 13, and DeAndre Jordan was the anchor defensively with 16 rebounds and four blocks to go along with nine points.
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There was nothing to divide the two teams after six penalties apiece, forcing the shootout to sudden death, where Russian Federation goalkeeper Anna Karnaukh saved Hanna Kisteleki’s attempt to win her nation a bronze medal. Her stop of a penalty shot midway through the third quarter with the US up 7-3 seemed to deflate Italy, and the defending champions cruised from there.
Team USA is playing Italy for the Olympic gold medal on Friday at the Olympic Aquatic Center, the same pool that hosted brilliant performances from the American men’s and women’s swimming teams.
In the last three seasons the United States have now claimed three successive World League titles, as well World Championship, World Cup, Pan American Games and, now, Olympic crowns.
There they were, still wearing their water polo caps, swinging hips to the drumbeat with dancers in huge green and yellow feathered headdresses as the crowd chanted “U-S-A, U-S-A!”
“What we did is really hard to do”, Steffens said.
Eight of the 13 players on the US roster are under 23 years old.
Before departing for California, Krikorian met with his players and urged them to make the most of their Olympic experience.
With 12 USA goals in the final, it was the highest goal count ever by a women’s water polo team in a gold medal match, and the widest margin of victory.
Tania Di Mario is the inspirational leader of the Italians.
Italy defeated the U.S.in the most recent world championships, and came away from that tournament with the bronze medal.
There was more heartbreak for European champions Hungary as they finished fourth for a third consecutive Olympics. Italy (Group A) and the United States (Group B) remained flawless in the preliminary round, while Brazil and China had yet to pick up a win.
A commanding 4-1 up at the end of the first quarter, the Olympic title holders were 5-3 to the good at half-time, and were never threatened once Kiley Neushul and Rachel Fattal extended their lead at the start of the third quarter. She shot 76 and was tied for eighth at 4-under.
Even when Steffens isn’t having a great game, the USA team is deeper than any other in the tournament. They’ve had nine different players reach the score sheet the last two games. Even after scoring 12 goals, the bulk of the US offense came from role players. Neushul had seven goals prior to the gold medal game.
Ivanova and Olga Gorbunova scored the first two goals of the game, but Italy gradually took over.
Questions now will turn to whether or not the team is capable of completing its hat-trick at Tokyo 2020, having established their dominion over the rest of the field in Brazil.
Arianna Garibotti and Roberta Bianconi have been the big names for Italy during the knockout rounds. Italy scored its final goal with just seconds remaining. She’s scored 12 goals in Rio.
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After Russia pulled within two with 3:17 left, Garibotti scored a power-play goal to make it 10-7.
