U.S. Wins but Needs Work

Though base camp is far behind, the top of the mountain is not quite in sight, nor should it be, as far as U.S. women’s water polo Coach Guy Baker is concerned.

Peak is almost an ominous four-letter word, at least when it is used about six long weeks, many games and many miles before the Olympic Games in Athens in August.

“I don’t think we’re peaking yet. I hope not,” said Baker, with a laugh. “If this is as good as we get, we’re not getting very good.”

He must have known something. This was Thursday on the pool deck at the temporary aquatic complex in downtown Long Beach after a lengthy morning practice.

Hours later, Russia crushed the U.S. in pool play, winning by five goals, making it the second time No. 1-ranked United States had lost to Russia in their last four meetings.

But three days later, the third-ranked Russians weren’t the ones playing in the title game. The U.S. won the championship of the FINA World Super League Final, beating No. 5 Hungary, 12-10, on Sunday in front of 3,118 in Long Beach. It was a rematch of their game a week ago at Palo Alto, Calif., in which the U.S. beat Hungary, 8-6.

This time, it was another tight contest, as neither could gain more than a one-goal lead through regulation, and the championship had to be decided by a shootout.

Four of the five American players scored in the shootout, and U.S. goalie Jackie Frank made two saves at the other end. Brenda Villa led the U.S. with three goals, the final one coming during the shootout.

“It’s our last tournament on American soil and we’ll have to take this with us to Athens,” Villa said. “We worked our way through the tournament. We started kind of rough, but we know it’s going to be that way in the Olympics.”

The U.S. had been going for its second significant title in a little more than a week, a bookend to its Holiday Cup championship at La Jolla, in which it beat Italy in the final. By winning Long Beach, the team also earned $40,000.

Dual titles and monetary benefits aside, how close is the team playing to its abilities?

“At times, we’re playing at 100% capacity. At times, I’d say we’re about at 20,” Baker said earlier in the tournament. “Sometimes we look really good. That, to me, is more the time right now. It is to be expected and it’s also the competition.”

The rest of the Long Beach tournament showed the 20% moments were fleeting.

Defender Robin Beauregard, one of seven returning members from the 2000 Olympic silver medalist squad, put the overall percentage a few notches higher.

“I think we’re playing pretty close to our ability,” she said. “I don’t think we’re quite at our peak yet, which is nice. Because everyone is still learning and we’re still getting a feel for each other.

“We definitely have moments of brilliance -- where it flows and we’re all in sync and we don’t have to communicate because we all know where each other is going to be. I’d say we are 75-80%.”

Frank said strong finishes have been a trademark since the team won the World Championships in Barcelona, Spain last summer.

The Americans have now won six consecutive international titles, starting with Barcelona.

“At World Championships, we might be down in the third quarter, but I always had confidence we’d get it back in the fourth quarter,” she said. “We always seem to hit that second gear and kick it in the last quarter and start our counter up right when the other teams are starting to get a little tired.”

Frank was also responsible for one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament in the semifinals against Italy on Saturday night. She pulled the ball off the line with about 30 seconds left, thwarting a last-ditch attempt, and the U.S., held on to win, 10-9.