On Water, U.S. Settles For Silver

Hungary 14, United States 10

BEIJING, Aug. 24 -- Take away the scoreboard at Yingdong Natatorium, and what was transpiring Sunday would have been apparent to even a novice water polo fan. The team from Hungary was playing for its third consecutive Olympic gold medal, and it boasted strong-armed shooters who are the best in the world. To beat the heavy favorite, the team from the United States would have to slow them down, tighten the defense, and grind one out.

"The United States of America," declared the team captain, Tony Azevedo, "is not going to play a shootout against the best shooters in the world, the Hungarians."

Midway through the third quarter, though, a body in a red cap swam behind the U.S. net. That would be backup goalkeeper Brandon Brooks. A few minutes later, another ball rippled to the back of the American net. And with that, the shootout was official, the Americans switched goalies and desperation showed through. Hungary won that third straight gold with a thoroughly impressive 14-10 decision over the United States, which matched its best finish in an Olympic tournament, earning a medal for the first time in 20 years.

"It's no time for words," said Hungary's Tamas Kasas, a veteran of all three championship teams. "It's an incredible and unbelievable thing."

That, too, is how the rest of the world views the Hungarian team. Though the United States had a flag-waving contingent of fans on hand, they were constantly drowned out by the Hungarians, whose flags were more numerous and whose chants were louder. Their enthusiasm seemed boundless.

"Water polo in Hungary is like the NBA back home," said Merrill Moses, the starting goalkeeper for the United States. "That's their bread-and-butter sport. You can see it. It shows. They play a great game."

Moses, then, was the victim of that great game, and his departure was the most significant indication that the game was not unfolding as the United States had hoped. Against Serbia in the semifinals, Moses made 16 saves and allowed only five goals. By the end of the first quarter, Hungary had six goals -- what the Americans had allowed per game leading up to the final.

"They've got a lot of firepower," U.S. Coach Terry Schroeder said. "They made us look bad on defense, and our defense all tournament long has been great. That's just a compliment to how great that team is."

Still, the Americans tied the game at 9 early in the third quarter on a goal from Layne Beaubien. But when Hungary responded to take the lead just over a minute later, Schroeder told Brooks to begin warming up in the area of the pool directly behind Moses. The Americans called a timeout, trailing by just a goal. But when Hungary's Daniel Rudolf Varga fired yet another ball past Moses, the United States trailed 11-9, and Schroeder called for the switch.

"Merrill got us to this game, and he played great all tournament," Schroeder said. "But we gave up six goals in the first quarter and [11] goals by the time we were able to get Merrill out. All those blocks were not his fault, but [I was] just trying to make something happen."

When Brooks swam toward the net, Moses met him halfway to the bench and patted him on the head. "Did I want to block some of those balls?" Moses said. "Yeah. What happened happened. They got some goals in on me. The coach did the right thing. You got to switch it up."

Brooks blocked the first shot he saw. Unfortunately, though, he could not shoot as well. Near the end of the third quarter, the Americans hit the crossbar with a shot, then had another bounce just over the net. They did not score again until 88 seconds remained in the game, by which time Hungary was up by five goals.

"They beat us," Schroeder said. "They beat us good."

Afterward, though, the Americans tried to take solace in the medals they did win. "To have the silver medal around my neck is basically breathtaking," Moses said. "We did something that no [U.S.] water polo team has done in 20 years."

The Americans beat the Serbs, the Italians, the Croatians. They just could not beat Hungary, not with their defense sagging and their last, best hope a desperate switch of goalkeepers.

"It's going to hurt tonight, and I'm sure tomorrow and for a few days," said Schroeder, who played on the teams that won silver in 1984 and '88. "But as the weeks go on, the months go on, they're going to realize what a huge accomplishment this is. They've got lots to be proud of."