Brazil was unequipped to derail the U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team’s progression toward a defense of its 2012 Olympic gold medal. The world champions were relentless in attack but even more dominant on defense giving up zero goals until the final stanza in a 13-3 rout. The team tallied five blocked shots and 12 steals in front of Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson who went a perfect six for six in saves between the pipes in three quarters of play.
The ten-goal margin was the biggest ever in a women’s Olympic water polo medal-round match.
An interaction between coach Adam Krikorian and young center defender Makenzie Fischer earned a rebuke from the sports blog, Larry Brown Sports. As shown during NBC Sports’ live coverage of the game, Krikorian tugged at Fischer’s cap strings after she exited the pool during a shift change.
[vine id=”5hIam7bePlv” mode=”lazyload” grow=”yes”]Even if Krikorian was being positive and congratulatory, there’s no need to yank a player by their chin strip like you’re pulling on a horse’s reins. Larry Brown Sports
LBS acknowledged that it was uncertain whether the yank was done playfully or out of frustration but described it as akin to “pulling on an horse’s reigns.”
The U.S. will next face Hungary in a Wednesday semi-final. The European Champions ended Australia’s run for a medal in a thrilling 13-11 shootout win. Group A winners Italy will face Russia in the other semi after dispatching China.
Good lord! Let the man coach his team. Apparently Larry Brown graduated UCLA before Adam Wright took over and raised the verbal abuse quotient ten fold. Krikorian is winning and loved by his players. What more do you want?