W. waterpolo: U.S. women’s water polo looks to Athens

The U.S. women’s water polo team is ready to win its first
gold medal at the Olympics, and six current and former Bruins are
looking to help it do so.

The 13-woman team favored to win the event at the upcoming
Athens Games was announced Wednesday and features seven returning
Olympians. The women are eager to make up for what happened in 2000
at Sydney, where they lost 4-3 to Australia in the final seconds
and ended up with silver.

“˜”˜We left Sydney in the past,” coach
Guy Baker said. “˜”˜This group wants to create its own
legacy. We have pretty high expectations.”

Team USA features UCLA senior-to-be Natalie Golda, junior-to-be
Thalia Munro, sophomores-to-be Kelly Rulon and Amber Stachowski,
and incoming freshman Gabrielle Domanic, who is the Olympic
team’s alternate.

Former Bruins Robin Beauregard, Nicolle Payne, and Kelly Rulon
will also be a part of the team in Athens.

Since women’s water polo became an official Olympic sport
at the 2000 Games, the United States has been a dominating
team.

After losing to Australia, the U.S. team won the world
championship in Barcelona and the Pan American Games in the
Dominican Republic last summer.

Team captain Heather Moody said the international triumphs have
built confidence.

“˜”˜There’s definitely some
momentum,” Moody said. “˜”˜Our team is
faster, but I also think we’re a more cohesive group. We use
all 13 of our players so we can rotate and stay
fresh.”

But the bitter sting from Sydney is still there.

“˜”˜Getting a silver medal is nothing to be sad about,
but it does leave you hungry to come back for the
gold,” returning center Ellen Estes said.
“˜”˜The gold is everything. It’s why we do what we
do. It’s the ultimate.”

The U.S. team will play several Olympic opponents before Athens.
All eight Olympic teams will compete June 17-23 in Long Beach at
the FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) Women’s
World League Super Finals.

Four of the top five teams in the world will compete at the
event.

The rest of the roster includes Heather Petri of Orinda, Jackie
Frank of Long Beach, Nicolle Payne of Cerritos, Ericka Lorenz of
San Diego, Brenda Villa of Commerce, Natalie Golda of La Habra and
Margaret Dingeldein of Merced.

From staff and wire reports.