Nov. 7, 2005
This article appeared in the Orange County Register Monday, Nov. 7
By DAN ALBANO
The Orange County Register
LOS ALAMITOS - At USA Water Polo's Top 40 Festival, it's usually the younger players who have the most to gain and make the boldest moves up the depth charts. The tournament's format provides the opportunity because the rosters are shuffled with Olympians, junior team players and college players.
Younger players get two days to play with or against some the best players in the nation. One younger player who followed the script almost precisely was Addison Doud, the former Laguna Beach player.
The Arizona State freshman emerged as a key contributor in Team Revolution's title Sunday night at the Joint Forces Training Base. The junior team center scored a late third-period goal and drew a penalty shot in the fourth to help Revolution edge Spectrum, 8-7, in the final.
U.S. national team coach Guy Baker said Doud was among the younger players who impressed him. Doud's play opened a few other eyes around the deck, too.
"I hope so," she said. "I learned so much playing here. I learned more here than three weeks of practice." Doud, a 6-footer, battled against players such as Olympian Natalie Golda in 2 meters on Saturday.
On Sunday, Doud scored a backhander that tied the score, 6-6, with 17 seconds left in the third. She then drew an exclusion 49 seconds into the fourth that led to Erika Figge's go-ahead goal. Moriah Van Norman added a match-leading fourth goal on a high-arching backhander about 90 seconds later for the eventual winning goal.
"She gave us two plays when we super needed them," Revolution coach Chip O'Rourke said.
Doud said she benefited from a familiarity of the national team system, which she picked up from Arizona State coach Todd Clapper, a U.S. assistant during the summer.
Figge (Santa Margarita) was selected tournament MVP. Spectrum's Emily Feher (Foothill) earned the outstanding goalie award after recording a tournament-record 48 saves. Doud finished the tournament with six goals scored.
