Given his Cal education, Adrian Weinberg knows how to use his head.
On Wednesday, Weinberg used everything when he stuck his face out to block a crucial penalty shot, one of two saves in a shootout that helped Team USA advance over Australia, 11-10, in men’s water polo.
With a win, the Americans clinched a spot in the semifinals for the first time since 2008, when they took home a silver medal.
Weinberg, who won three national championships as a goalie at Cal, finished with 11 saves in a nail-biting finish in which the Americans nearly lost in the game’s final minute.
Australia tied the game and then took the lead with a pair of goals 52 seconds into the fourth quarter.
But with the U.S. down on its final possession, former Stanford star Alex Bowen scored to tie the game with 32 seconds left and force a penalty kick.
That’s where Weinberg made two key blocks, including a hard shot he saved with his faceto send the Americans through.
Team USA will now face a big test in two-time defending gold medalists Serbia in a semifinal game on Friday.
Seven of the 13 players on the US men’s roster have Bay Area ties.
Cal’s Alekna earns silver in the discus
After setting a new world record in the men’s discus in April, Cal junior Mykolas Alekna entered the Summer Olympics as a gold favorite.
He has to settle for silver.
Alekna, 21, came within 0.03 meters of the winning throw of 70.00 meters by Jamaica’s Roje Stona. Stona’s throw broke a 20-year-old Olympic record previously held by Virgilijus Alekna, Mykola’s father.
Mykolas had set a world record in April with a throw of 74.35 meters. The record had been held for 38 years.
This story will be updated.
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