U.S. Picked Apart by Skilled Croatians

By HELENE ELLIOTT

Sept. 23, 2000 12 AM PT

The U.S. men’s water polo team knew its Olympic road would be a tough one. Just how tough became clear in its tournament opener today, a 10-7 loss to Croatia at Ryde Aquatic Center in Sydney.

Able to isolate players in front of the net with surprising ease, Croatia used a pinpoint passing game to distance itself from the U.S. in the first quarter. Center forward Igor Hinic led Croatia with three goals and center back Ratko Stritof and driver Samir Barac each scored two.

Driver Wolf Wigo led the U.S. with three goals on four shots. Three-time Olympian Chris Humbert scored the last two goals of the game in the final 90 seconds to make the score a bit less embarrassing, and center back Gavin Arroyo and driver Tony Azevedo (penalty shot) each scored once.

Olympics

Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

U.S. Picked Apart by Skilled Croatians

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