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Just one Calympic event on Day 11 of the London 2012 games. The US Women's Water Polo team with two Golden Bears (Elsie Windes and Heather Petri) battled long time Water Polo rival Australia for the right to play for the Gold medal on Thursday. It was a rather exciting game (so I won't spoil the result and allow you to click here to watch the full replay). For the rest of you, find out after the jump if the California aquatic dominance continue in London.
GO BEARS!
Women's Water Polo:
The semifinal of Women's Water Polo pitted two long time aquatic rival USA and Australia (the two countries are separated only by a vast amount of water) against one another. In an exciting match that went to extra time (after an almost inexcusable mistake from the head coach of Team USA, reminiscent of that famous Chris Webber gaffe in the NCAA basketball final), Team USA prevailed 11-9. Heather Petri and Elsie Windes both played in the match for 16+ and 22+ minutes, respectively. The win ensured at least a Silver Medal for Petri and Windes (and their teammates who may have attended various other Pac-10 schools that we won't bother to name here).
Here is how the recap of the game described what happened at the end of regulation with Team USA up 9-8 with seconds left.
But with one second on the clock, Krikorian called a timeout without his team having possession of the ball — an automatic penalty. Australia's Ash Southern converted the shot to tie it at 9 and force overtime.
Wow, what a mistake that was. Nevertheless, Team USA prevailed to advance to the Gold medal match against a surprising Spain squad on Thursday at noon PT (unfortunately, overlapping with the Women's Soccer's Gold medal game).
It's going to be an interesting Thursday to see how much more Golden will the Cal medal count get.
Can't count Morgan's soccer medal or Windes and Petri's water polo medals, so the current Cal total is still
Event medals: Six gold, one silver, three bronze
Individual medals: Eight gold, one silver, four bronze
GO BEARS!