Stingers Lose in Over-time Heartbreak
The Australian women’s water polo team, the Aussie Stingers, have fallen agonisingly close in pulling off another miracle as they went down to the USA 11-9 in extra time.
Australia will now play off for the bronze medal against the loser of Spain versus Hungary, after again falling at the last hurdle to the Americans.
The USA pipped the Stingers 9-8 in the semi-final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and in history’s cruel way of repeating itself, the two-time Olympic silver medallists again produced the goods as they held their nerve for a dramatic win.
The match looked like being decided in normal time after America drew clear with a minute forty remaining. But when American coach Adam Krikorian called a timeout, one that by the rules he was not entitled to call because his team was not in possession, referees halted proceedings and after consulting technical officials awarded Australia a five metre penalty with one second remaining.
Withstanding the shock of the decision, 19-year-old sensation Ashleigh Southern was then handed the opportunity to level the game at 9-9 and with consummate ease rifled the shot into the left hand corner of the net to give Australia an unforseen second chance.
Unfortunately for the Stingers, brutal defence by the Americans and a player of the match performance by US centre forward Kami Craig helped America establish an 11-9 lead – one they were able to hold on to for the victory.
“I don’t know if it was lucky,” Australian coach Greg McFadden said of the five metre penalty. “I actually thought they should have got one 15 seconds earlier.
“In the end though, America was too good and too strong.”
“It’s hard for everyone. It’s devastating any loss in the semis, but we now have to regroup for the bronze medal game in two days’ time.
“Being beaten by America is no embarrassment; they’ve probably been the most consistent team in the last four years and it’s very rarely they get beaten.
“Of course I’m very proud, we had a very emotional game against China and it took a lot out of us, and to back up again in extra time, particularly against America was very tough.”
Australia got off to a great start building a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter with Southern and Rowie Webster unleashing a barrage of thunderous strikes.
The Americans got their first through an outside shot to Courtney Matthewson, before Holly Lincoln-Smith earned a great five metre penalty at centre forward with Southern converting for her second.
The Stingers clearly got the upper hand in the opening exchanges but a couple of lucky ricochets, one off the post and then head of keeper Alicia McCormack, allowed the US to draw level at 3-3.
America produced their ‘A’ game in the second quarter going on a three goal run to open up a two goal lead. A third strike from Southern and a brilliant penalty save by McCormack kept the Stingers in it, but the signs were ominous.
Australia was again forced under early foul trouble with Sophie Smith and Nicola Zagame having two majors to their name in the first half. Zagame did net a precious goal in the closing stages to reduce the margin to one, but her exclusion from the game in the third term proved costly.
In attack, the Stingers were trigger happy as only their resilient defence preserved the slender deficit. What was more telling, however, was the lob sided exclusion count – with America conceding four to the Australians eight midway through the third period.
Australia’s courage again stood tall, though, with Webster finding the back of the net to cancel out Maggie Steffens fourth, and leave the scores at 7-6 heading into the last.
The fourth quarter began much like the third with no goals early but when Australian captain Kate Gynther was excluded Jessica Steffens nailed the extra man chance to reinstate the two goal buffer.
Australia replied almost immediately with a composed extra man lob by Glencora Ralph., but the USA were still ahead 8-7 with four minutes remaining. On Australia’s next possession Holly Lincoln-Smith earned an exclusion and Beadsworth showed all her experience to lock the scores up at 8-all.
The Americans scored next in extra man via Melissa Seidemann, following Beadsworth’s first exclusion, to again take the lead. Neither side could score on their next possession but after McFadden called his last timeout the Australians dream of playing for the gold hung on less than 30 seconds.
In the final possession the USA defence was stifling and the Australians could not get off a shot until Gynther fired one at the goals that cannoned off the posts and into a scrum of players. In the ensuing second – the very last of the match – confusion reigned leading to the miraculous penalty.
The Stingers will now have to settle for a second consecutive bronze medal playoff, a result that is disappointing but one that is just reward for their efforts.