First Women's Water Polo Tournament
RYDE, Australia (AP) _ There's no crying in water polo. Except for this match, an Olympic first.
"I never get emotional, I didn't think I would," said Australia's Bridgette Gusterson. "I never cry before a game. I did today."
Gusterson scored three goals as Australia defeated Kazakstan 9-2 Saturday (Friday EDT) to open the first Olympic women's water polo tournament.
"For me it was an absolute experience," said Australia's Debbie Watson, who is 35 and unretired to take part in history. "I feel very lucky to have been here."
Australia, one of the favorites in the six-team tournament, got two first-half goals from Gusterson. Yvette Higgins added two for Australia, which should get a tougher game from Russia on Sunday.
But the game was as much a celebration for Australia, serving as host to the first women's tournament in a sport that that has been men-only at the Olympics since its debut in Paris a century ago.
Both teams stepped into the pool while a Shania Twain recording said, "Let's go girls" and fans clapped along.
"I wasn't sure there would be anybody here," said Higgins, at 22, one of the team's youngest members.
Boy, was she wrong.
There were about 4,000 people at the Ryde Aquatics Leisure Center. About 50 of them wore green and yellow frizzy wigs with shirts saying "Giddy Up, Aussies," on the front and "Australian Women's Water Polo Olympic Cheer Squad," on the back. They broke into Aussie chants and sang "Waltzing Matilda" as their team took control.
When it was over, the crowd stood and cheered. Players from both teams waved back.
Kazakstan led 1-0 on Olga Lechshuk's goal only 45 seconds into the game. That would be one of Kazakstan's few highlights.
"We started very strong in the first quarter, which we knew we had to against Australia," said Rezeda Aleyeva of Kazakstan. "Once we found the first goal, we knew we had to keep at it."
Australia wouldn't let them.
Higgins tied the game four minutes later and Gusterson put Australia ahead for good on a penalty shot with 1:53 left in the first period.
Kazakstan had chances to get back in it. But goalkeeper Danielle Woodhouse, a second-half replacement for Liz Weekes, made several close-in stops to keep Kazakstan off the board during the final two periods.
Watson embraced teammates at the final horn. She remembered how she was certain, after being told other sports would have to downsize to get her sport in, that she'd never compete beneath the Olympic rings. "We heard maybe in '84 or '88, then '92 and '96," she said. "I didn't think it would happen for me."
When she learned in 1998 that her homeland would be the host, she dragged herself back into a sport she left about 2½ years earlier and earned a spot.
"It's good that we could do this," said Gusterson, the team captain, hugging her friend Watson.
Australia coach Istvan Gorgenyi said his team's slow opening probably stemmed from the emotions. "It made things very nervous," he said.
But he was glad when his team got rolling. "It's good they could play in this game," Gorgenyi said. "Now we can concentrate on tournament."
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV 09-15-00 2243MDT
