U.S. women's water polo earns battle scars on way to semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO

All in all, Maggie Steffens didn't think Monday's water polo match against Brazil was anything out of the ordinary. "The games are always super physical,'' the United States captain said. "We definitely have scratches and bruises here and there, but it's nothing we haven't seen before.''

It is winter in Brazil, so it probably shouldn't be surprising that a game of liquid hockey broke out at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Steffens and her teammates walked away from a 13-3 victory with red slashes across their necks, abrasions on their shoulders and scratches on their arms.

Wednesday's Olympic semifinal against Hungary should be even more heated, Steffens said, which is hardly a concern for the world's No. 1 team.

The U.S. women have charged through the Olympic tournament, going 4-0 and outscoring their opponents 47-17. They weren't bothered by another ill-mannered Brazilian crowd — "We enjoyed their booing,'' Makenzie Fischer said — or by the rough play. In this sport, grabbing, dunking, wrestling, suit-ripping and shoving are part of the game, and part of the appeal.

Steffens and her teammates are such a tough bunch that they didn't mind playing in the chemical soup at Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre, where the chlorine dumped in to remedy the murky green color stung other athletes' eyes. The tournament moved to the swimming stadium Monday for the final rounds, a shift scheduled before the water went bad.

Coach Adam Krikorian said the Americans would gladly dive in anywhere, even a mud pit, to defend the Olympic gold medal they won in 2012. They probably would look right at home on ice, judging from their quarterfinal victory.

"If you're a hockey fan, trust me,'' said Steffens, the most valuable player of the 2012 Olympic tournament. "You're going to love water polo.''

The Brazilian fans came ready to party Monday, arriving late — which has become a theme of these Olympics — but staying through a rout and raising the roof for three late goals by the home team. Those who were there for the Brazilian national anthem set the mood, as nearly everyone in the stadium sang in unison, on key and with gusto.

The theme from ''Jaws'' played as the teams swam out to the ball at the center of the pool. That seemed appropriate, since the meek would be swallowed up like chum in this game. Under the surface, players' legs churn in an eggbeater motion as they tread water, passing the ball and setting up plays that merge basketball and hockey strategy.

Above the water, they're mugging each other. Early in the game, Brazil's Marina Zablith put her hand on Rachel Fattal's head and shoved it under the water. American Kiley Neushul and Brazil's Camila Pedrosa engaged in hand-to-hand combat. When Mariana Duarte tried to hit a Brazilian teammate with an outlet pass, Neushul throttled her.

There is more clutching and grabbing in water polo than there is in hockey. Like Minnesota's favorite game, there's a beautiful side, too, demonstrated repeatedly by the U.S. Any Wild fan would appreciate the way the Americans moved the ball, looking like a crisp power-play unit as they spread the defense to get clear shots. It even sounded like Xcel Energy Center at times; when Brazil passed repeatedly around the perimeter, the impatient spectators bellowed at their team to shoot.

The game featured a penalty shot, U.S. snipers who could pick the corners, breakaways, shots caroming off the goalposts and American goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson's impression of Devan Dubnyk. Looking as tall as the Wild goalie, Johnson launched herself out of the water and batted away shots with her long reach, shutting out Brazil during the three quarters she played.

The U.S. is the current world champion and is the only nation to have medaled in women's water polo every time since the sport joined the Olympics in 2000. The Americans retained their focus even when Krikorian's brother, Blake, unexpectedly died in California last week. Krikorian returned home, spent a few days with family and came back to Rio ready to pursue another gold.

Superior quickness, a tight, aggressive team defense and a sharpshooting offense have put them in good position to repeat. Anyone who wants to take the gold will have to wrestle it away from a group that relishes the fight.

"We can expect more physical games as we go forward, and the stakes get higher and higher,'' the United States' Aria Fischer said. "It's something you get used to, something you either like or you don't like. We're all here because we like it.''