Canada Does Australians No Favors

With the Sydney Olympics a little more than two months away, the Canadian women’s water polo team fired a warning shot heard halfway around the world Friday night.

Johanne Begin buried the go-ahead goal in the left corner of the net with 55 seconds remaining to defeat Australia, 6-5, in the Holiday Cup tournament at the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Center.

With a victory or a tie today against Russia, the Canadians will earn a rematch with the unbeaten U.S., which downed winless Kazakhstan, 13-2, in Sunday’s championship final. The U.S. defeated Canada on opening night, 12-9.

Australia’s last shot against Canada ricocheted off the right post. That is how things have been going for the Aussies, who can’t wait to get back on their own pool deck. They’ve also lost to the U.S., further eroding the Aussies’ reputation as the Olympic gold-medal favorites. They’re 2-2 with a lackluster 32-29 goal differential at an event that is billed as the most important pre-Sydney barometer.

“This was a warning sign,” Australia Coach Istvan Gorgenyi said. “People have been talking about how we are going to win the Olympics. Maybe we are not the favorite. This game shows that nothing comes for free.”

Neither side led by more than one goal and Begin took over in the fourth quarter after the Aussies rallied to tie, 4-4. She scored on a four-meter rocket with about four minutes to go for a 5-4 lead, then scored the game-winner after Australia’s Bridgette Gusterson was ejected.

“The Australians have always been a mental thing with us,” Begin said. “Our games have always been close, but they won all the games until we beat them in the Canada Cup earlier this year. That game got us over the hump.”

The final whistle Friday led to an excited celebration from Coach Daniel Bertelette and his troops, who gathered in front of their bench and let out a group cheer.

The Australians figure to be a few goals better in their own pool next month in a series of exhibitions Down Under. But they won’t do it playing the way they have in Los Alamitos.

“We were flat,” Gorgenyi said.

U.S. 13, Kazakhstan 2--Ellen Estes scored five goals and Rachael Scott had three. Olympic alternate Catherine von Schwarz, subbing for the injured Robin Beauregard, also scored for the U.S. (4-0). Kazakhstan is 0-4.

The Netherlands 11, Russia 9--The defending world champions are 2-2. Russia fell to 1-3.

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Women’s Water Polo

* What: Women’s Holiday Cup

* When: Today-Sunday

* Where: USA Water Polo National Aquatic Center, on the Joint Forces Training Base, 11200 Lexington Dr., Los Alamitos

* Basics: Tournament features all six teams that will compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, including the current world champion, Australia, the 1999 World Cup champion Netherlands, Pan American Games champion Canada, Asian champion Kazakhstan and the two entrants from the World Olympic Qualification tournament, Russia and the United States.

* Today’s schedule: 4 p.m.--Kazakhstan vs. Australia; 5:30--U.S. vs. Netherlands; 7--Russia vs. Canada.

* Tickets: All sessions--$32 for adults, $20 for students; individual sessions--$10 for adults, $6 for students; finals only--$12 for adults, $8 for students.

* Website: https://www.holidaycup.com

* Information: City of Los Alamitos, Recreation and Community Services Dept., (562) 430-1073