Water polo

What a cool sport! Tonight I saw the US Womens Water Polo team take on Australia at the Avery Aquatic Center with my mentor Sonja. It was a packed house, including some of the US Olympic swim team. It was a great game and was back and forth until the end. USA came out on top 7-5 with the 7th goal coming from an open net shot (like when the goalie leaves the net in ice hockey) in the last few seconds.

So on to the pictures:

Micheal Phelps and other fellow Olympians leaning on the fence. More of the team was sitting two rows in front of us.


AUS advancing on goal. They have the dark blue and yellow caps. USA is in the white caps.

The US team get ready to play in the second quarter.


Moving the ball around to get a shot on goal. They are only allowed one hand on the ball even when catching (I think).

The US lining up a shot. The teams switched goals following halftime.

This one went in to make the score 5-3 with the USA in the lead.



Blocked!!!!

These matches are pretty exciting. The players sometimes fake like they are getting dunked by an opponent, which draws a foul sometimes leading to a power play. These athletes must have exceptional leg strength because they CANNOT TOUCH the bottom of the pool. It is too deep, so anytime the make a shot or pass they must propel themselves high above the surface of the water. Pretty cool stuff.