Bay Area Olympians: Maggie Steffens’ bid for a fourth water polo gold medal ends
U.S. women’s water polo falls to Australia in a penalty shootout, will play for bronze instead of gold. Kitesurfer Daniela Moroz falls short of medal stand.
Maggie Steffens’ quest for history is over.
The Danville native scored a go-ahead goal late in the third quarter, but the United States could not hold on in a tense semifinal match on Thursday at the Paris Olympics.
The Americans lost to Australia 6-5 in a penalty shootout after the teams played to an 8-8 tie through four quarters of regulation.
Instead of the United States trying to give Steffens, its captain, a shot at an unprecedented fourth gold medal, Australia will face Spain in the championship match on Saturday.
The Americans will play the Netherlands on Saturday for bronze.
In the penalty shootout Thursday, neither Australia or the U.S. missed through the first five rounds.
In the sixth round, Zoe Arancini scored for Australia, then Maddie Musselman was unable to convert for the U.S., ending the match in stunning fashion.
Musselman and San Jose’s Jenna Flynn had each scored twice for the Americans in regulation.
After Steffens broke a 6-6 tie with a goal near the end of the third quarter, Rachel Fattal scored to extend the Americans’ advantage to 8-6.
But the Australians wouldn’t be denied.
Bronte Halligan scored less than a minute after Fattal’s goal to pull Australia to within 8-7 and then scored again with 2:54 left to even the match 8-8.
Kitesurfing: Lafayette’s Moroz narrowly misses medaling
Lafayette’s Daniela Moroz, 23, finished fourth in the women’s first kitesurfing championship round at the Olympics.
Ellie Aldridge of Great Britain took gold, Lauriane Nolot of France claimed silver and Annelous Lammerts of the Netherlands captured bronze.
In kitesurfing, the winner was the first to three victories (counting the qualifying rounds). Aldridge needed to win twice, while Nolot required just one victory to take first place.
Aldridge won both of the championship races. Moroz finished third in Race 1 and fourth in Race 2.
Golf: Zhang stays in contention
After shooting an even-par 72 during the first round of the women’s golf competition, Stanford’s Rose Zhang moved into a tie for 12th by shooting 2-under 70 on Thursday.
The Arcadia native is tied with U.S teammate Nelly Korda in the standings. Sweden’s Morgane Metraux leads the pack at 8-under after shooting 6-under 66 on the Thursday.
There are no cuts in Olympic golf. The winner is determined after four rounds.
Zhang, 21, won the 2020 U.S Women’s Amateur and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2023. She captured NCAA individual titles in 2022 and 2023.
Women’s volleyball clinches spot in title game
Stanford alum Kathryn Plummer played a starring role in the U.S.’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Brazil as the national team advanced to the women’s volleyball championship.
Plummer had a team-high 23 kills, along with two blocks and one ace. The teams traded sets for the entire match, with team USA winning 25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11.
In addition to kills and blocks, Plummer also had a number of point-saving digs during the five-game match.
The U.S will face Turkey or Italy in the final on Sunday.