Three-Peat for USA Women at FINA World Water Polo Championships

Team USA's Ashleigh Johnson—MVP at 2019 FINA Worlds— proved again that she is world's best goalie. Photo Courtesy: Hiroyuki Nakamura / FINA

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With yet another dominant performance—including a decisive run of six straight goals to turn a close match into a rout—the U.S. women’s water polo team accomplished what no nation had ever before: capture a third consecutive FINA World Water Polo Championship.

fina-gwangju-jul19 In beating Spain 11-6 Friday morning at the Nambu Municipal University Aquatics Center, not only did Team USA win a major title for the 12th straight tournament, Head Coach Adam Krikorian’s squad extended an Olympic era record of 53 wins in a row. With seven victories against the world’s top teams over almost two weeks of play at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the reality is: when it comes to women’s water polo, no other program can catch the Americans.

With scoring spread throughout the entire roster, Team USA was led by Kiley Neuschul’s three goals, a pair of scores from captain Maggie Steffens, and a phenomenal 14 saves from goalie Ashleigh Johnson, who was named tournament MVP. The Spaniards were led by Roser Tarrago’s three scores and a pair of goals from Beatriz Ortiz Munoz.

In remarks after the final horn sounded on his team’s latest win, Krikorian said that his team saved their best for their final two matches; a dominant 7-2 semifinal win against long-time rival Australia and now another FINA Worlds title—the program’s sixth—on Friday in Gwangju, South Korea.

“A phenomenal performance—especially defensively”

Krikorian, who over 11 years of Team USA leadership has steered the program to 261 wins, including Olympic Golds in the 2012 and 2016 Games, was keen to point out what was most important to his team in this tournament: defense.

All Team USA Gold medalists – FINA Worlds + Inaugural Beach Water Polo winners. Photo Courtesy: @USAWP

The U.S. did not blow out any of its major opponents, and with leading scorer Maddie Musselman (13 goals) out for the finals match, scoring was spread evenly among 8 of the 10 field players, led by Neushul. What keyed this victory and Wednesday’s win against the Aussies was a committed defensive scheme backed by America’s superb goalie. The Miami-born Johnson stopped 14 shots in both contest, and was particularly effective when the Americans went on their decisive 6-0 run from the end of the second period to the Spaniard’s first possession of the fourth. What had been a 3-3 game turned into a rout, with Mackenzie Fischer, Melissa Seidemann, Aria Fischer, Rachel Fattal, and Neushal scoring twice to decide the contest.

[18th FINA World Championships: A Numbers Game for US Women’s Water Polo]

Spain fought back with three goals in the final period—including a score by Ortiz Munoz when Johnson was rested in favor of back-up Amanda Longan—but there was no denying the Americans on this or any day.

Their coach admitted that this run by Team USA is about more than just wins and losses.

“We’re spokespersons for the sport of water polo and there’s a bigger purpose to this than just the glory,” he said in response to questions from Greg Mescall of USA Water Polo. “It’s inspiring for us to continue this run, and hopefully we can.”

With their unparalleled success, the U.S. women have inserted themselves in conversations not just about success in polo but achievement in any sport. Of the more noteworthy accomplishments—Penn State women’s volleyball’s 109-match win streak that included four NCAA titles; UConn women’s basketball 111-match win streak—one record that may be of significance to Krikorian. As a player and then head men’s and women’s coach at UCLA, he was part of an astounding 15 NCAA championships in 14 years: can it be that he and his players have their sights on the 88-match win streak fashioned by the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden, with the Bruin men’s basketball team?

[The Bruin Tradition: UCLA Players Bolster US Teams for FINA 2019 World Water Polo Championships]

Don’t bet against this latest Bruin great and his fabulous players to beat that mark—and win a third straight gold in the Tokyo Olympics.

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Pat Kennedy

4 years ago

Congratulations!!!! GO TEAM USA!!!