Stingers golden moment: Aussies set to create their own ‘slice of history’

Courtesy olympics.com.au

The Australian Women’s Water Polo team is on track to win their first Olympic gold medal in 24 years after defeating the United States 14-13 in a penalty shootout in Paris.

The Stingers embraced their team mantra “to be brave” as they toppled the Water Polo superpower.

The USA has won a medal, including three gold, at every Olympics since the sport made its debut for women at the Sydney 2000 Games.

The side, captained by Zoe Arancini, now faces world number one Spain in the gold medal match on Saturday.

Coach Bec Rippon, a two-time Olympian and bronze medallist, believes her team is ready to create their own piece of sporting history.

The seasoned coach was at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre the night left-hand centre forward Yvette Higgins tamed the USA scoring a goal in the final second of the match to win the sport’s inaugural Olympic title back in 2000. She was 21 at the time.

Just moments after goalkeeper Gabi Palm sent the Aussie fans wild in Paris saving the sixth penalty shot by American Maddie Musselman to advance to the final, Bec confirmed her side is ready to create their own slice of sporting history.

“I remember sitting in that grandstand in Sydney as a kid that was really inspiring you dream about being part of something like that,” Bec said.

“As a player, I didn't quite get that close but those players are still out there inspiring us and we still talk about it.

“We talk about wanting to be like them but doing it our way. We look up to them and we're inspired by them, but we're trying to just make sure we drive it ourselves and we are creating our own slice of history and our own legacy.”

For the Stingers, the moment to play in front of a capacity crowd at the 15,000-seat La Defense Arena, was enough to inspire what many touted as their match of the tournament.

As they squealed with delight on the pool deck, and raced to hug each other and their families, showing the unity of a team ready to contest to be the Olympic champion.

“That just shows exactly who we are as a team,” Tilly Kearns said.

“We have a saying that is to be the ‘last man standing’. That's our third penalty shootout in seven games. We've come out on the winning side of every single one of those.

“It's a testament to us how we work under pressure, how we play for each other. We believe that we can get the job done, we stay present in the moment. We've come out on top.”

Australia had early opportunities in the match, but the US took the lead just two minutes into the opening quarter with a conversion by Musselman.

A penalty shot from an Alice Williams-foul gave the US another chance just three minutes into the match but goalkeeper Gabi Palm was impenetrable in defence.

Sharp-shooter Jenna Flynn made the most of a one-player advantage with centre forward Abby Andrews excluded to give the Americans a two-goal lead.

But debutant Charlize Andrews came back in the final nine seconds of the quarter to bring the score to 2-1 at the first break.

Strong defence from captain Keesja Gofers and Sienna Hearn kept their opponents at bay but Musselman capitalised on a Bronte Halligan-exclusion to take the score to 3-1.

Australian co-captain Zoe responded just seconds later to bring the Australians back within one point with four minutes remaining in the quarter.

But the lead was short-lived, with centre forward Jovana Sekulic converting from the centre and Emily Ausmus taking on the Stingers goalie to give the USA a three-goal lead at the half-time break.

The Stingers came out firing after the break with Zoe setting Abby up to score less than two minutes into the second half. 

The triple Olympian from Perth set up Abby once again just moments later to bring the score to 4-5.

Strong keeping from Gabi kept the US assault led by Rachel Fattal at bay, while Abby notched her hattrick leveling the score at 5-5 with just under three minutes to play.

An onslaught from Flynn and a fourth for two-time Olympian Abby levelled the score at 6-6 with 1:40 left on the clock.

The US called a time out with just 32 seconds left on the clock and set Maggie Steffens for a shot right on goal to take a one-point lead going into the final break.

With the opportunity to play for the gold medal on the line, Fattal continued to press the Australian defence and scored with a player advantage within the first minute of  the quarter.

But the Stingers were relentless with Bronte nailing a crowd-pleasing shot from the right to keep her side within one point of the Americans.

Bronte, from the Northern Beaches, notched her second of the night to level the score at 8-8 and despite valiant efforts both sides remained scoreless forcing the match into a penalty shootout.

The teams remained even throughout the shootout with both shooters and goalies showing calm but it was perhaps Australia’s strategy to switch goalies throughout the penalties that helped secure the victory.

Gabi and secondary goalie Genevieve Longman switched throughout the shootout to allow the opposition players to have “a different person to look at” according to coach Bec.

It was on the sixth American shot by Musselman that Gabi saved that secured the match 14-13 and the gold medal opportunity for the Australians.

“I've felt every emotion,” co-captain Keesja said.

“I'm just so proud of this team. We've believed in ourselves and we've just been so present at each moment.”

The Australians will play Spain at 11:35pm AEST on Saturday 10 August.