Trojans In The Olympics: Women’s Soccer And Water Polo Add 4 More Golds For USC

Led by Carli Lloyd in their rematch against Japan, the Team USA women’s soccer team got payback and bested the Japanese 2-1, en route to three-peating gold medals. Lloyd scored both of team USA’s goals, a fierce header off the cross of Alex Morgan in the first half, and a strike from outside the box, into the left corner of the goal. Team USA has been the gold medal winner of women’s soccer dating back to the Athens Games in 2004.

Trojan Amy Rodriguez is a member of Team USA and is now the proud owner of two Olympic gold medals. In 2008, Rodriguez actually laid the assist to Carli Lloyd, who put away the game-winning goal in Beijing.

In the pool, the American team earned another goal when they sunk the Spaniards in women’s water polo, 8-5. This is America’s first gold from the women in the sport, aided largely in part to Maggie Steffens who had an incredible five goals.

Also apart of the gold medal effort were women of Troy Tamua Anae, Kami Craig, and Lauren Wenger, who all played for USC in the early 2000s. For Spain, Anni Espar earned a silver medal for the Trojans.

In a ten-minute span Thursday afternoon, USC picked up four gold medals and two silvers.

Other Trojans In The Olympics:Marathon swimmer and current USC senior Haley Anderson earned a silver medal for Troy when she came in second in the 10K swim.

Trojan Alum Duane Solomon came in 4th in the 800m, recording a personal-best time of 1:42.82.

Nicole Davis and the Team USA volleyball team beat South Korea 3-0 in the semifinals, and will move on to face Brazil in the gold medal round.

Fan-favorite Bryshon Nellum and Josh Mance competed in the 4×400 meter relay semifinals, and came in second in their heat. They will go on to run in the medal round of the event on Thursday, though the odds are stacked against them. LaShawn Merrit pulled his hamstring in the first round of the open 400m and will not race, Jeremy Wariner tore his hamstring in practice and is out for the season, and in their tremendous effort in the relay on Thursday, Manteo Mitchell fractured his tibia. He finished his leg of the race on said fractured tibia, which is incredible, but now Team USA’s ability to medal in the 4×400 is in jeopardy.