Beat but not defeated 8/6/12

  After beginning the tournament 3 - 0 and feeling pretty good about ourselves we fell flat on our faces in the last two games.  First, it was Serbia that ripped our defense apart.  They came down on their very first possession just :33 seconds into the match and scored.  We seemed flat from the beginning and by the end of the fist quarter it was 4 - 1.  We actually played a decent second quarter.  We scored the first goal of the quarter to make it 4 - 2 and then had a couple of good chances to make it 4 -3, including a power play.  Serbia would keep us off of the scoreboard and add one themselves to make it 5 - 2 at the half.  By the end of three quarters it was  8 - 4 and then 11 - 6 at games end.  Merrill Moses played solid in the goal and ended with 12 saves.  Ryan Bailey had two goals, Tony Azevedo, Peter Varellas, Tim Hutton and Jeff Powers all added a goal.  Certainly not the result we wanted.  My observation was that we seemed to be playing on our heels.  Timid at best.  We allowed Serbia to take it to us at both ends of the pool.  Our defense - which needs to be strong if we have any chance to win a medal here - was porous.  We allowed too many easy goals, including four counter attack goals and one center goal this is bad - these are our golden rules - we do not allow counter goals or center goals.  Anyway, I have to give Serbia credit. They played very well and dominated us.  They showed everyone that they are the team to beat right now.

Two days later, on Monday we would come back for our final game of the preliminary round.  Our opponent - Hungary, the winner of the last three Olympic Gold medals.  That is right, they have won the gold in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.  Although, they had not played that well here in London, we knew what they were capable of.  Our situation going into the game was as follows.  We had already assured ourselves a birth in the quarter finals.  A win or a tie against Hungary would mean that we would finish second in our bracket; a loss would mean that we would finish fourth in our bracket.  Basically, how you finish in your bracket determines who you would play in the cross over (quarter final game).  Finishing second would mean Spain or Italy in the cross over and fourth would mean Croatia.  More importantly, I tried to get our guys to focus on ourselves.  Getting back to playing good USA water polo.  Four quarters of good solid defensive water polo.  No easy goals for the other team.  We came out playing strong defensive water polo.  At the end of one quarter, Hungary was up 1 - 0.  Definitely, our style of game.  We had some good scoring chances ourselves but could not find the back of the net.  Regardless, we seemed to be back on track with our game.  We totally fell apart in the second quarter allowing Hungary 3 unanswered goals to take a 4 - 0 lead.  Finally, we scored a nice goal but then the Hungarians came right down and scored on their very next possession. We traded goals again at the end of the quarter and found ourselves down 6 - 2 at the half.  The third quarter was just as bad as we were outscored 4 - 1 by the Hungarians again and by the end of three quarters the came was essentially over.  We were down 10 - 3 and although we showed life and won the final period 3 - 1, the final score was once again 11 -6.  So much for one goal games. We left the deck with our heads down totally defeated.  Hungary had totally outplayed us.  They looked and played like the defending champions. I felt sick to my stomach.  We had been beaten badly two games in row.  As the head coach, I have to first look in the mirror to find the answers.  Much of the responsibility falls upon my shoulders.  Why have we played poorly on the world’s biggest stage?  Once again, that begins with me...  We gathered for a short meeting in our very somber locker room.  I reminded them of a couple of things.  Here is a summation of what we talked about. We had been beaten by two of the best teams in the world.  They played well and we did not.  Both of these games are in the past now. We can only learn and grow from our loses and many great teams have said that their defining moments have been in their most humiliating loses.  We are very much alive.  Beginning in the quarter finals everyone in the tournament is 0 - 0.  Everything begins all over. 

We do need to find the answers and as I mentioned above that begins with me. I spent some time with my family and then just hung out by myself in the Olympic Park for a couple of hours.  I walked and reflected.  I sat and prayed for guidance.  I searched my mind for answers.  Where is that team that I have seen play so well in the past?  What has happened?  As I sat in one area of the park. I read this quote etched into the marble wall. 

“That which we are, we are

One equal temper of heroic hearts

Made weak with time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”

As I thought about it and reflected, I realized how true it is here at the Olympic Games.  We are all tested and often times defeated, however loses are only temporary.  We must never give up, we must stay strong and to seek to find the answers. We must stay the course and continue to strive for the goals that we have set out to accomplish. 

Although, I did not sleep well. I woke thankful that we have the opportunity that we have in front of us.  It is a new day and we are very much alive. We are here at the Olympic Games and as Yogi Berra once said “it’s not over till its over”. Today we will spend the day preparing for Croatia.  We will spend time watching video and developing a scouting report and game plan that gives us the best possible chance against Croatia.  They are a great team and they are undefeated here in London.  They have played very well and will be a very tough opponent.  The coaches will work hard to help get our guys back on track and get ready to play at our best level.  I still believe that we can do this...

We may be a bit beat down right now but we are far from done.  Keep the faith.

See you at the pool.

Coach