Olympic roundup: U.S. wraps up resounding run to gold in women’s water polo
Ashleigh Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo.
Makenzie Fischer and Rachel Fattal each had two goals for the Americans, who stretched their win streak to 22 games with their sixth victory in Rio de Janeiro by a combined score of 73-32.
Neushul and tournament MVP Maggie Steffens each gave coach Adam Krikorian a big hug as they left in the final minute, and Neushul patted him on the head. When the final seconds ticked off, Krikorian walked over to congratulate Italy coach Fabio Conti, and then was tackled into the pool by a couple of his jubilant players.
In another Olympics dominated by U.S. women, Steffens and her teammates shined as brightly as any of them. The water polo tournament shifted to the Olympic Aquatics Stadium following the swimming competition, and the array of Pac-12 stars that dominate the U.S. roster picked up right where Katie Ledecky and company left off, wearing down their opponents with superior speed, athleticism and strength.
The U.S. women were the overwhelming favorites all along – and they played like it.
The Americans pounded Brazil 13-3 before outslugging Hungary 14-10 in the semifinals. They held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of only 44 seconds – in the first quarter against Hungary on Wednesday.
Women’s soccer
Dzsenifer Marozsan scored early in the second half and Germany went on to give coach Silvia Neid a 2-1 victory over Sweden in her final match for the nation’s first Olympic gold in women’s soccer.
Neid, a two-time FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year, is stepping down following the Olympics. The win at the iconic Maracana Stadium gave her one more title to cap her 11-year career as Germany coach.
At the final whistle, Neid ran with her assistants onto the field and she briefly jumped onto the players’ dogpile.
Sweden, which upset the three-time defending champion United States in the quarterfinals, earned the silver medal for its best finish in the Olympic tournament since the sport joined the program in 1996.
Earlier in the day, Canada defeated host Brazil 2-1 for the bronze medal in Sao Paulo.
Women’s golf
Inbee Park kept her composure in strong wind and made two late birdies to regain the lead, posting a 1-under 70 for a two-shot lead going into the final round of women’s golf at Olympic Golf Course.
Just as difficult as the 30 mph gusts was seeing the name of Lydia Ko right behind her.
Ko, the No. 1 player in women’s golf, made the first hole-in-one of her career as she raced into contention. The 19-year-old Kiwi made all pars on the back nine when the wind arrived and shot 65. She started the day seven shots behind and now has a solid chance at gold.
Men’s volleyball
The well-developed survival skills exhibited by the U.S. men’s volleyball team vanished late in its semifinal against Italy on Friday at the Olympics. Italy won a thriller, 30-28, 26-28, 9-25, 25-22, 15-9. The U.S. had been trying to avenge an earlier loss to Italy in pool play as well as a devastating defeat four years ago at the London Olympics.
Italy saved five set points in the opening set and had one in the second set but missed the chance to take a two-set lead. It recovered its poise after a one-sided third set and won the fourth, finishing it off with a 6-0 run.
“At the end of the day, we just weren’t skilled enough,” said U.S. coach John Speraw. “We just didn’t execute on some opportunities and Italy did.”
Hickey imprisoned
European Olympic head Patrick Hickey of Ireland is spending the closing days of the Rio Games in a prison after his arrest in a ticket-scalping scandal, authorities said Friday.
The 71-year-old International Olympic Committee executive was denied bail after his legal team argued unsuccessfully that he was being detained illegally following his early-morning arrest Wednesday at his hotel.
The former judo athlete is facing charges of conspiracy, ticket scalping and ambush marketing after Brazilian authorities alleged he was part of a plot to make $3 million by illegally selling Rio Games tickets above face value.