ORANGE COUNTY OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK : Defensive Whiz Kimbell Shows He Can Play Offense

Doug Kimbell, a former water polo star at Villa Park High and Cal State Long Beach, is regarded by U.S. Coach Bill Barnett as the premier two-meter defender in the world.

But Saturday, Kimbell proved he can also play offense by scoring two goals in leading the United States to an 8-4 victory over Australia in the opening day of the Olympic water polo competition at Barcelona.

Former UC Irvine players Jeff Campbell and Mike Evans each scored one goal for the United States, which is favored to win the gold medal. The Americans are playing their preliminary matches in the six-team Pool A.

The two goals by Kimbell, 32, equal his output in seven matches at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, when the United States finished second to Yugoslavia.

It was a relatively easy victory for the Americans, even though Australia managed to stay within one goal, 3-2, after two quarters.

“Both teams were very nervous because this was the first game,” said Barnett, the Newport Harbor High coach.

The United States faces Czechoslovakia today, a team that made the tournament as a replacement for Yugoslavia. Sanctions imposed by the United Nations because of the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina prevented the defending Olympic champion from participating in Barcelona. Only individual Yugoslav athletes were allowed to compete.

A match against Yugoslavia today possibly would have been a prelude to a third consecutive clash between the two teams for the gold medal. But that’s irrelevant now, and Barnett said the United States should not take Czechoslovakia lightly.

“(It) will be a very difficult game against Czechoslovakia because we might ease off,” Barnett said.

HOW THE OTHERS FARED

--Lanee Butler, San Juan Capistrano, won the eighth regatta and finished ninth in the ninth regatta in the women’s Lechner sailboarding competition. Butler is in eighth place overall with 95.7 points and one race remaining. Barbara Ann Kendall of New Zealand remains the overall leader with 42.1 points. Low score wins, with competitors allowed to throw out the race in which they scored the most points.

--Phil Nevin, Placentia, was 0 for 4 in a 10-0 victory over the Dominican Republic.

--Greg Springer, Costa Mesa, and teammate Jonathan Smith of Swampscott, Mass., finished third in Heat 1 of the men’s double sculls consolation finals in 6 minutes 26.67 seconds.

WHO’S COMPETING TODAY

Lanee Butler, San Juan Capistrano, in Lechner sailboarding final.

Jeff Campbell, UC Irvine; Mike Evans, UC Irvine; Chris Duplanty, UC Irvine; Doug Kimbell, Orange and John Vargas, UC Irvine, with U.S. water polo team against Czechoslovakia.

Chip McKibben, Newport Beach, in quadruple sculls consolation finals.

Phil Nevin, Placentia, with U.S. baseball team against Japan.

Elaina and Kim Oden, Irvine and Tammy Liley, Westminster, with U.S. women’s volleyball team against Spain.

Tony Okada, Stanton, in judo extra lightweight matches.