VOLOS, Greece – Marist water polo head coach Natalie Benson led Team USA to a first place finish in the 11th FINA World Junior Women's Water Polo Championships on Sunday. Benson was an assistant coach for the American squad, which captured the gold medal with a 13-10 victory against Spain.
Benson was part of a coaching trio that is believed to be the first all-female staff to win a major championship in USA Water Polo history. The final victory in the tournament maintained the USA Water Polo Women's National Team program status as reigning Olympic, FINA World, FINA Junior World, FINA Youth World, FINA World Cup and FINA World League Champions.
"The experience of working with the Junior National Team has been an incredible honor," Benson said. "These young women are at the point in their career where we are looking at the next generation of Olympians, and being a part of their journey is humbling and exciting for me. This team came together so quickly, and bought in to the mission of continuing the successful legacy of USA women's water polo. I am also excited to be a part of a history-making staff, as I don't recall an all-female staff ever winning a major championship in our sport."
Team USA won all six of its matches in the tournament, edging eventual silver medalist Spain, 17-16, to conclude pool play. The three championship matches were all decided by three or fewer goals. The Americans took down Brazil, 12-9, in the quarterfinals and advanced to the gold medal game following a 13-11 victory over Russia in the semifinals.
A two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Benson was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on May 30. She was known as one of the best defenders to ever play for the USA Water Polo Women's National Team and was on American squads that won Olympic medals in Athens in 2004 (bronze) and Beijing in 2008 (silver).
Early in the 2015 season Benson led Marist to a 9-8 win over No. 9 Indiana, which was the highest-ranked team the Red Foxes defeated in program history. Benson owns a 40-31 overall record, including 22-4 in MAAC play, in two seasons at Marist. She has been named MAAC Coach of the Year each of the last two seasons.
