BEIJING — After taking big steps, the United States men’s water polo team ended up on the second step on the podium.
After losing 14-10 to Hungary in the gold medal game at the Beijing Olympics Sunday, that felt more like a disappointment than the achievement it was. But in time, coach Terry Schroeder and his players know that will change.
“It’s going to hurt tonight and hurt tomorrow,” said Schroeder, “and for a few days, but as the weeks go on and the months go on, they’re going to realize what a huge accomplishment it is. And they’ve got a lot to be proud of.”
The silver is the first medal earned by the U.S. men in 20 years — the last was also a silver, in 1988 by a team captained by Schroeder — as well as the last of 110 medals earned by the U.S. Olympic Team in China, since the game was the last event to conclude before Sunday’s Closing Ceremony.
None of which was an immediate consolation.
“I’ll look back, and I’ll be satisfied for sure,” said Layne Beaubien. “But right now, I don’t feel happy with the result.
“OK, I have a medal around my neck, but when you go out losing after this run we made, it’s really disappointing.”
Not that there is any shame in losing to Hungary, the dominant force in Olympic water polo. Sunday’s gold was its third in a row and ninth overall. The Hungarians earned it by dictating the pace and with a series of brilliant shots, puncturing a U.S. defense that had only allowed more than seven goals once in its other six tournament games.
“They’ve got a lot of firepower,” said Schroeder, “and they made us look bad on defense, and our defense all tournament-long has been great. That’s just a compliment to how good that team is. They’ve got a lot of great shooters … they’re well coached, they’ve got the athletes, and they beat us good today.”
Hungary not only had nine players score — led by three each from Peter Biros, who scored on all three of his shots, and Daniel Varga — but it ended the red-hot run of U.S. goalkeeper Merrill Moses. Moses made just one save before he was replaced by Brandon Brooks midway through the third quarter.
“I was just trying to make something happen,” said Schroeder. “Merrill got us to this game, and he played great in the tournament, but we gave up six goals in the first quarter and 10 goals by the time we were able to get Merrill out.”
Moses said he completely understood the move.
“They have great shooters,” said Moses, “and they played a very fast game.”
Hungary scored twice on fast breaks, something that had not happened against the U.S. in at least four games.
“We prepared for it, but some days it isn’t your day,” said Moses. “I’m happy the coaches got Brandon in there to see if they could make a difference. That’s the whole thing, this is a team. They just kept coming at us. But I’m proud of how we played.”
Despite the Hungarians’ shooting prowess, the U.S. matched them goal-for-goal into the second half, tying the game at 9 on a goal by Beaubien with 6:47 left in the third quarter.
But Hungary scored the next five goals; the U.S. didn’t counter until Jesse Smith scored with just 1:28 remaining.
“You never want to get in a scoring battle with the Hungarians, because they’re such great shooters,” said Ryan Bailey. “We wanted to make it a defensive game, and we just didn’t get it done. …
“They were hitting shots. They were making tough shots, and it starts kind of steamrolling on you.”
Agreed Tony Azevedo, who won his first medal in three trips to the Olympics, “The United States of America is not going to win a shootout with the best shooters in the world.”
Still, after playing on teams that finished sixth in Sydney and seventh in Athens, Azevedo understood what his team had accomplished.
“For us, this is an amazing accomplishment,” he said. “… We really stepped up together. No one quit. Finally, Terry arrived, and our only goal was to be on the podium. My proudest moment was every single one of us dying for each other.”
Pleased as he was with the way the team had progressed, Schroeder was not ready to re-enlist as the national team coach quite yet.
“That’s a tough question right now,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. We’ve got two young girls, and family’s definitely the most important thing in my life.
“It’s been a lot of fun for me and I’m happy I was a part of it, but to try to make a commitment for four year right now, we’ll have to see.”
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