Olympic Ladies’s Water Polo: Bea Ortiz Run Leads Spain to Gold over Australia
A 3-goal run by Bea Ortiz early within the third quarter gave Spain the separation it wanted in an 11-9 win over Australia for gold on the Paris Olympics Saturday.
The gold is the primary for Spain on the Olympics since girls’s water polo was added in 2000. It’s the third time Spain has reached the ultimate, dropping to the US in Tokyo and London. Spain additionally misplaced World Championships finals to the U.S. in 2017 and 2019 and to the Netherlands in 2023.
That ache is behind them now, thanks largely to Ortiz. She scored 4 targets on six pictures and dished an help. However her timing was every thing.
Spain led 3-2 at half earlier than successful the swimoff to start out the third quarter. Twenty-four seconds later, Ortiz fired house off a feed from Paula Leiton.
Spain’s Bea Ortiz fires a shot on Australia within the championships match on the Paris Olympics in Saturday; Picture Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Ortiz scored on a penalty lower than a minute later to make it 5-2 Spain, and after Abby Andrews’ power-play purpose briefly introduced the Aussies again inside two, Ortiz buried a direct foul purpose to revive a 6-3 edge. Spain would by no means path.
The closest Australia obtained was 7-6 with 5:45 left to play on Sienna Hearn’s purpose. However 36 seconds later, there was Ortiz with a solution, her fourth purpose on the facility play to allay any flagging Spanish spirits.
Maica Garcia was 3-for-3 taking pictures for Spain. Leiton had a purpose and two assists. Anni Espar scored on each of her pictures to go together with an help. Spain weathered Australia shutting down Judith Forca, who had only a solitary help and no targets on two pictures.
Martina Terre was excellent in purpose, with 15 saves. Spain held Australia to only 9-for-30 taking pictures and muzzled a potent energy play to a manageable 5-for-14 taking pictures (36 %).
Alice Williams, blanked by the U.S. within the semifinal, restored regular service with 5 targets, albeit on 11 pictures. She added an help. Abby Andrews, who was wonderful towards the U.S., was held to 1-for-5 taking pictures. Bronte Halligan didn’t rating however dished 4 assists. Hearn scored twice, and Gabriella Palm made eight saves.
The silver medal is the primary for the Aussie program, having gained bronze in London and Beijing after successful the inaugural match in Sydney in 2000.
