DAVIS “”mdash; A nostalgic Thalia Munro with a towel wrapped
around her head reflected on her career just one day before leaving
to UC Davis for her final NCAA Tournament. She remembered her first
national title, one in which she served as a role player. She
recalled last season, when the weight of fulfilling the lofty goal
as the best water polo team ever assembled was bestowed on UCLA.
And now this. As one of the most celebrated women’s water
polo players in the world, Munro, who amassed 128 goals in her
four-year career as a utility player and was a member of three
championship teams ““ 2003, 2005 and 2006 ““ finished out
her career on top. “It’s pretty unbelievable,”
Munro said. “This is the probably the sweetest, but
they’re all pretty sweet.” For once, Munro, who just
one season ago had difficulty fitting in after missing two straight
seasons training with the U.S. National Team, felt comfortable.
Being on this team was something she would never trade. “I
think for me this year it’s been different because I’ve
had the biggest role. For me it’s more personal,” she
said.” As the voice of the women’s water polo team,
Munro was put in the precarious position of answering constant
questions about whether this team has underachieved. “It
really doesn’t matter what anyone says,” Munro said.
“We know what we’re capable of. We were waiting for our
time.”
TROJAN GREAT: USC senior Moriah Van Norman,
considered one of the best two-meter players in the world, will
have to end her collegiate career on a sour note. After having
racked up 215 goals, third all-time in Trojan history, Van Norman
saw her Trojans fall to the Bruins on a last-second shot. It
stings. “I hate losing in general. I can’t tell you
what’s worse, but this is something I won’t ever
forget,” Van Norman said. The face of the game may have
changed when Van Norman picked up her third ejection and was
relegated to the bench for the remainder of the game. The
double-ejection that saw Van Norman and Munro sidelined occurred
with 5:15 remaining. “I was disappointed in myself. I was
frustrated,” said Van Norman, who will continue her career in
water polo as a U.S. National Team member. “I didn’t
necessarily understand the call. You can’t control the refs.
In a championship game you have to expect everything.”
CLOSING CALL: USC coach Jovan Vavic blamed the
referee. Hawai’i coach Michel Roy pointed out that it’s
not right to call an ejection that ultimately decided the game. The
fuss that concluded the national championship game came on a call
by referee Aaron Chaney, who was a referee during the 2004
Olympics. Bret Bernard, the NCAA national coordinator of water polo
officials, who was on-site, said he fully agreed with the call.
“The call was consistent with the rest of the game, and it
was the right call,” he said. NEW FACILITY ON
SHOW: The Schaal Aquatics Center was on display this
weekend, and there were mixed reviews. Roy said the facility is one
of his favorites. However, Van Norman pointed out the smell that
neighboring grazing areas were emitting, and the most apparent flaw
of the facility was pointed out by Hawai’i junior goalie
Meike de Nooy. “The only thing that is annoying is the sun.
It was on the (right) side,” de Nooy said. “I wish they
can put something up over there.”