The men’s water polo team defeated longstanding foe Hungary to capture bronze on Sunday, adding one more medal to Team USA’s total.
The game was close, particularly in the fourth quarter. Team USA led 6-5 until allowing Hungary to score three consecutive goals. The United States scored two more goals to equalize the game, but they were unable to score the winning goal. The game came down to a shootout. Each side has five opportunities to score one-on-one against the opposing team’s goalie.
Hannes Daube, Max Irving, and Alex Bowen each scored on their attempts, but American goalie Adrian Weinberg was a brick wall, stopping Hungary from scoring a single goal in the shootout. Hungary’s third miss following three consecutive American goals earned Team USA the victory, which the guys celebrated both on and off the water.
Team USA has not won a medal in men’s water polo since the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Ironically, they fell to Hungary in the gold medal match and won silver. Team USA and Hungary are the most successful Olympic water polo teams in history. Hungary has 16 medals (albeit they did not win any in Paris), whereas the United States now has 10, including a bronze against Hungary.
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