United States of America showed its class in winning both the men’s and women’s water polo crowns at the Pan American Games just concluded in Santiago, Chile. For the men, it was their eighth straight crown — beating Brazil 17-7 — and for the women it was a sixth consecutive title, downing Canada 20-11 in the final. By winning the gold medals, they also qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the American representatives.
USA men made sure of the medal and the trip to Paris with a resounding margin over a Brazilian outfit that snuck into the final after a 14-13 defeat of Canada in the semifinals.
Alex Bowen and Hannes Daube led the USA charge in the final with five goals each with goalkeeper Drew Holland recording seven saves. Ryder Dodd, who was marked out of the final, finished the leading scorer in Santiago with 28 goals for 70 per cent.
Once USA had the measure of Brazil, leading 2-1 at the quarter, USA went 5-2 and had the halftime margin at 8-3.
Daube scored twice to open the third period, while Pedro Vergara countered with two for Brazil. Bowen, Max Irving and Chase Dodd followed with goals for an unassailable 13-5 lead at the final break. Bowen drilled consecutive goals to open the final quarter, eventually moving out to the 10-goal victory.
USA went 4/10 on extra-man attack and 2/2 on penalties while Brazil went 3/6 on extra and 0/1 on penalties.
Canada suffered another narrow defeat in the battle for bronze with Argentina claiming the medal with a 12-10 success.
Puerto Rico outplayed Mexico for fifth position, winning 13-9 and Cuba needed a 5-4 penalty shootout to beat Chile 12-11 after the match was locked at seven.
Men’s results:
Day 1: USA 30 Mexico 2, Brazil 18 Puerto Rico 5, Argentina 20 Cuba 4, Canada 28 Chile 4.
Day 2: USA 28 Puerto Rico 9, Canada 29 Cuba 7, Brazil 21 Mexico 10, Argentina 16 Chile 3.
Day 3: USA 24 Brazil 7, Canada 14 Argentina 7, Puerto Rico 15 Mexico 12, Cuba 13 Chile 9.
Day 4: Quarterfinals: Brazil 16 Cuba 6, Argentina 20 Puerto Rico 9, USA 28 Chile 2, Canada 20 Mexico 5.
Day 5: Classification 5-8 semifinals: Mexico 16 Cuba 11, Puerto Rico 16 Chile 6. Classification 1-4 semifinals: Brazil 13 Canada 12, USA 22 Argentina 7.
Day 6: Classification 1-2, USA 17 Brazil 7. Classification 3-4: Argentina 12 Canada 10. Classification 5-6: Puerto Rico 13 Mexico 9. Classification 7-8: Cuba 12 Chile 11 in penalty shootout (FT: 7-7. Pens 5-4).
USA women ready to defend Olympic crown
USA was in the sort of form that no-one could possibly beat it on the big day. This proved to be the case in the gold-medal final as USA went 5-3, 5-4, 6-2 and 4-2 in the quarters.
As they show, Canada was in the mix in the first half and even led 2-1 and later drew to within one at 4-3 before USA secured the first period.
Canada kept USA honest in the second quarter and kept replying to the many USA assaults. However, USA was relentless, going 10-6 before Canada trimmed it by one at halftime.
Rachel Fattal scored three goals in the third period as USA bounced out to 16-9 by the final break.
The final period was much the same as Canada narrowed the margin to six before USA pulled away for the nine-goal victory.
Fattal and Jenna Flynn scored five goals with Flynn claiming the overall tally of 28 goals in Santiago at 85 per cent. Ashleigh Johnson made seven saves in goal.
USA converted 8/12 on extra-man attack and 3/4 on penalties while Canada went 4/9 on extra and 1/1 on penalties.
Brazil was pressed all the way by Argentina for the bronze medal, winning 10-9. Mexico had the better of Cuba 15-11 for fifth and Puerto Rico rammed in the goals for 18-13 against Chile and took seventh classification.
USA has cemented a Paris berth and is poised for a possible fourth consecutive Olympic title.
Women’s results:
Day 1: USA 35 Chile 0, Cuba 14 Mexico 11, Brazil 19 Puerto Rico 7, Canada 14 Argentina 9.
Day 2: USA 29 Puerto Rico 0, Canada 24 Cuba 3, Brazil 31 Chile 2, Argentina 8 Mexico 6.
Day 3: USA 25 Brazil 3, Canada 32 Mexico 7, Argentina 18 Cuba 17 in penalty shootout. (FT: 12-12. Pens: 6-5), Puerto Rico 14 Chile 12.
Day 4: Quarterfinals: Argentina 13 Puerto Rico 11, Brazil 12 Cuba 10, Canada 33 Chile 2, USA 32 Mexico 1.
Day 5: Classification 5-8 semifinals: Mexico 120 Puerto Rico 9, Cuba 15 Chile 13. Classification 1-4 semifinals: USA 27 Argentina 1, Canada 21 Brazil 4.
Day 6: Classification 1-2, USA 20 Canada 11. Classification 3-4: Brazil 10 Argentina 9. Classification 5-6: Mexico 15 Cuba 11. Classification 7-8: Puerto Rico 18 Chile 13.