Latest news with #AussieStingers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Heartbreak for Stingers as Greece net late winner
Australia's women's water polo team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the dying seconds of their quarter-final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The Aussie Stingers and Greece were locked at 7-7 with eight seconds left on Saturday, but Australia inexplicably turned over the ball and the Greeks swam towards the Aussie goal, shooting from outside to beat the buzzer, scoring with two seconds left. There were never more than two goals separating the teams all game, and the Aussies seemed to have the momentum in the final quarter. It was always going to be an emotion-charged game, the two sides having faced off in the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Australia won that game and went on to claim the silver medal. But, like Australia, the Greeks have a new-look team and have already achieved strong results in this Olympic cycle. Stingers captain and dual Olympian Bronte Halligan said the team were devastated they won't have the opportunity to play for a world championship medal. "That's a really tough result. As Bec (Rippon, Stingers coach) said, quarter-final water polo you've got to stick it out right to the end and we did,'' Halligan said. "The Greeks also did that, but we showed real heart out there and I couldn't be more proud of our girls. "It's a tough loss and it's going to sting for a little bit, but the girls will hold their heads high knowing we did everything we could have. "This is a stepping stone and we really want to build this squad, we have a lot more goals. I think it's exciting to see where we are going to go over the next few years during this Olympic cycle.'' Rippon echoed Halligan's sentiment, saying despite the disappointment of the loss there is a lot they can build on as they set their sights on LA 2028. "We spoke about it before the game, that this is what we do all the hard work for, these big moments, and we go out there and leave everything we've got in the pool, and I think we did that tonight,'' Rippon said. "It is a heartbreaking way to lose, but we did leave everything out there and I'm proud of the team.'' Australia now meet Japan in the classification matches on Monday.


Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Heartbreak for Stingers as Greece net late winner
Australia's women's water polo team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the dying seconds of their quarter-final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The Aussie Stingers and Greece were locked at 7-7 with eight seconds left on Saturday, but Australia inexplicably turned over the ball and the Greeks swam towards the Aussie goal, shooting from outside to beat the buzzer, scoring with two seconds left. There were never more than two goals separating the teams all game, and the Aussies seemed to have the momentum in the final quarter. It was always going to be an emotion-charged game, the two sides having faced off in the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Australia won that game and went on to claim the silver medal. But, like Australia, the Greeks have a new-look team and have already achieved strong results in this Olympic cycle. Stingers captain and dual Olympian Bronte Halligan said the team were devastated they won't have the opportunity to play for a world championship medal. "That's a really tough result. As Bec (Rippon, Stingers coach) said, quarter-final water polo you've got to stick it out right to the end and we did,'' Halligan said. "The Greeks also did that, but we showed real heart out there and I couldn't be more proud of our girls. "It's a tough loss and it's going to sting for a little bit, but the girls will hold their heads high knowing we did everything we could have. "This is a stepping stone and we really want to build this squad, we have a lot more goals. I think it's exciting to see where we are going to go over the next few years during this Olympic cycle.'' Rippon echoed Halligan's sentiment, saying despite the disappointment of the loss there is a lot they can build on as they set their sights on LA 2028. "We spoke about it before the game, that this is what we do all the hard work for, these big moments, and we go out there and leave everything we've got in the pool, and I think we did that tonight,'' Rippon said. "It is a heartbreaking way to lose, but we did leave everything out there and I'm proud of the team.'' Australia now meet Japan in the classification matches on Monday.


The Advertiser
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Stingers repeat Paris water polo success against USA
The Australian women's water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth. With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style. Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time. In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime. After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal. Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2. The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell. In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break. Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8. For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu. "An 8-8 score and then to go into irony wasn't lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics," Halligan said. "It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties." Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn't playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career. Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games. Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away. "I've done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special," Arancini said. "I'm ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it's the right decision because I'm happy, I'm content, and it's my choice. "I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved, and I'm so excited for the next generation to step in." The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month. The Australian women's water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth. With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style. Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time. In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime. After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal. Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2. The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell. In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break. Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8. For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu. "An 8-8 score and then to go into irony wasn't lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics," Halligan said. "It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties." Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn't playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career. Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games. Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away. "I've done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special," Arancini said. "I'm ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it's the right decision because I'm happy, I'm content, and it's my choice. "I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved, and I'm so excited for the next generation to step in." The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month. The Australian women's water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth. With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style. Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time. In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime. After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal. Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2. The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell. In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break. Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8. For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu. "An 8-8 score and then to go into irony wasn't lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics," Halligan said. "It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties." Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn't playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career. Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games. Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away. "I've done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special," Arancini said. "I'm ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it's the right decision because I'm happy, I'm content, and it's my choice. "I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved, and I'm so excited for the next generation to step in." The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.


Perth Now
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Stingers repeat Paris water polo success against USA
The Australian women's water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth. With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style. Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time. In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime. After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal. Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2. The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell. In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break. Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8. For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu. "An 8-8 score and then to go into irony wasn't lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics," Halligan said. "It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties." Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn't playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career. Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games. Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away. "I've done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special," Arancini said. "I'm ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it's the right decision because I'm happy, I'm content, and it's my choice. "I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved, and I'm so excited for the next generation to step in." The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.