Canada’s chances of advancing in women’s water polo ended with a loss to Italy on Thursday, with Blair McDowell, who scored one of Canada’s goals, leaving the game bleeding around her left eye, according to a photo.
It is unclear when or how McDowell sustained the cut during the match, which ended with fifth-seeded Italy beating eighth-seeded Canada 10-5. Photos show McDowell with a cut just above his left eye and blood running down his left cheek.
McDowell, who played four collegiate seasons at Arizona State University, tied the game with 24 seconds left in the first period, but Italy led by three at the end of the second period and continued to extend that lead with 16 minutes remaining.
McDowell caught two of Canada’s 24 shots in 14 minutes, including one during a fourth-quarter substitution.
She had no blood on her face when she celebrated her first-quarter goal.
The loss denied Canada its first medal in water polo and forced it to settle for seventh-place playoff against Greece on Saturday. The women’s team is in its fourth Olympic Games but has yet to finish better than their fifth-place finish in the 2000 Games.
In group play, McDowell went 1-3, beating China and losing to Hungary, Australia and the Netherlands before being part of a group that lost to Spain in the quarterfinals.
2024 Paris Olympics
She hadn’t scored a goal until Thursday’s win over Italy, but has added three shots in her opening five games.
“My focus is finding that balance of being a soldier and doing what I need to do for the team and also incorporating my own style of play,” McDowell said. He spoke to CBC in July, before the Olympics began.“Over the past few months, I feel like I’ve finally figured it out. And I know how to be less timid.”
Australia and Spain will meet in the gold medal game on Saturday.
