By Dr. Terry Schroeder, Westlake Village resident and head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men's Water Polo Team, which practices for several months in Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks.

Today was huge. We beat a team that was as good as any one in the tournament.

Just four days ago, Croatia dominated Serbia - beating them 11- . At one point in that game, Croatia was ahead 10-4. Today, we out played them in almost all aspects of the game. We had them out of balance and frustrated.

Their offense stalled and they could not do much at all in their front court offense. We beat them 7-5 and had a few good opportunities at the end to beat them by even more.

They scored four of their goals on 6-on-5 and had one goal out of center. Our defense is really playing well. In the last two games (against Serbia and Croatia), we have given up a total of nine goals. This is against two of the strongest teams in the world.

Merrill has been playing great in the goal and our defense is moving well around him. Today, all systems came together. Now the trick is to keep it rolling and to build on this game.

We will play Germany on Monday. A win guarantees us top six and a spot in the quarterfinals. After we beat Germany, we will have eight points in pool play. Croatia and Serbia will more than likely have eightpoints also.

In the case of a three-way tie, the tie is settled by goal differential. We had to beat Croatia by three goals to have a chance to advance first in our bracket.

We knew this going into our game today and we talked to the team about it before the game and then again in our time out with a few minutes to go in the game.

Unfortunately, we fell one goal short so while it was a huge victory - we need to beat Germany and then we may still advance third in our bracket. Hey, maybe we just need another game to mature. We are getting better as the tournament goes on, so look out.

My family ( Lori and the girls) were able to visit the Olympic Village today after the game. It was so much fun watching the girls experience the Olympic Village and meet a bunch of athletes.

Sheridan and Leanna are on a pin-trading mission. They have a little friendly competition going on with Ryan Brown. I am sorry but watching the girls in action - poor Ryan does not have a chance. Leanna is the spotter - she points out the athletes with all the pins and then Sheridan moves in for the kill.

How can they turn down a cute little 7-year-old with pony tails? She gets most of the people to part with their most prized pins. Many of the athletes that she trades with just end up giving her a pin. They are having a blast and the parents and team members have all made them feel like a part of the family.

Leanna and Sheridan have been very popular all around town. The Chinese people don't get a chance to see too many blonde-haired, blue-eyed children, so the kids have been superstars here. They have had their picture taken with hundreds of Chinese men and women.

Today, we were having ice cream in a small gelato shop and the owner came out with his wife and just started gawking at the kids. They brought out their camera and finally worked up the nerve to come over and ask Lori if they could take a few pictures with the kids.

Pretty soon all the workers and people in the store were moving in for a picture with the girls. They have enjoyed being the superstars over here.

On a side note, I finally picked up my laundry that has been sitting at the laundry service in the village for the past three days. Needless to say, it was not very pretty. The system is a little weak.

They give you two mess laundry bags when you check into the village - one is for whites and one is for colors. When you want to have your laundry done you take your bag of dirty clothes in and they give you a receipt.

In 12 hours, you can pick up your "clean" clothes. The clothes have been washed and dried in the mess bag. So when you pick it up the clothes are in a big ball.

You can specifically tell them if you want your clothes extra wrinkled or not. Just kidding but the clothes I just picked up were still slightly damp and clumped into a big giant wad. It was not pretty. I guess those clothes are done for the trip...

I am feeling a bit spent this evening. It has been a fantastic day - full of success. I told the guys to enjoy the moment - enjoy the day and tomorrow we get back to work. The pinnacle of our journey still lies ahead and we need to go forward and build on this game.

I like what I am seeing in the pool and out of the pool. This is a team - a team that has grown to appreciate and respect each other and now they are willing to lay it all on the line for each other. What I like the most is that we can still get better. GO USA!

See you at the pool!

P.S. I have heard that our game against Croatia may get some good air time on Saturday at about 1 p.m. That is on the West Coast and on the East Coast. Enjoy!

P.S. again. Your faithful contributor Wayne Bean will be leaving tonight for Beijing and will be in the stands for the game against Germany on Monday (Tuesday here).

Wayne Bean is a local supporter of the U.S. Men's Water Polo Team and has been posting blog entries for Coach Schroeder while he is in Beijing.