Stingers open Paris campaign in style

Courtesy olympics.com.au

Australia’s Women’s Water Polo Team has made a perfect start to its Paris Olympic campaign with a 7-5 win over China.

The Stingers were in control for most of the game before China equalised with two consecutive goals in the third period.

Australia responded with two goals in the final four minutes to take the win, and Alice Williams said it was a proud moment for the team.

“The Olympics is always going to be tough, the best of the best are here, and you can’t switch off at any point,” Alice said.

“I’m really proud of us for grinding, it’s tough to win any game at the Olympics, especially a grinding one. 

“We came together and in critical moments we had phenomenal defence and some of our players stepped up in really critical attacking moments as well.”

“I had to get the cobwebs out, it was very emotional and I was crying in the anthem, my family was right behind me and it was always going to be a bit of an adjustment,” she said.

“But of course none of my goals are without my teammates’ involvement, I just finish all the hard work that they start.”

The Stingers’ next game is against The Netherlands at 10pm (31 July).

“We’ll decompress from this game tonight and tomorrow we re-focus,” Alice said.

“I think it’s really important for us to have a couple of days before we play The Netherlands to get over the highs and lows of playing your first Olympic Games for most of this team, and second or third in front of a crowd.

“It’s been the longest time coming, we’ve been training for four years and especially the last eight months together, so looking up at the flag and singing the anthem is something you can’t really put into words.”

Alice scored two goals to go with three from Abby Andrews and one each to Zoe Arancini and Bronte Halligan.