Shanghai, China – June 12 – The USA Women’s Senior National Team won gold once again at the FINA World League Super Final, this time defeating Spain 13-9 in the championship match. The victory marks the United States’ third straight FINA World League Super Final title and 10th overall. 10 different goal scorers were led by Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) who added two goals in the final and was named tournament MVP. Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) did the job in net stopping nine shots. Next up for Team USA will be the naming of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team this Thursday at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles, CA.
Team USA took an early lead against Spain grabbing a 3-2 advantage after the first quarter. The United States kept the attack going in the second quarter outscoring Spain 4-2 to build a 7-4 lead at halftime. The two teams were even in the third quarter scoring three goals apiece to leave Team USA up 10-7 going to the fourth quarter. The United States pulled away over the final eight minutes outscoring Spain 3-2 on the way to a 13-9 victory.
Both teams were strong on the power play with Team USA going 6/9 while Spain was 5/8 with neither team attempting a penalty shot. “I’m proud of the team’s performance today. We can still be sharper defensively but offensively we were very efficient,” said USA Head Coach Adam Krikorian.
Later this month Team USA will take on Miami in a three game series on the East Coast. They will meet Hungary in Miami, FL (June 27), Greenwich, CT ( June 29), and the Bronx, NY (July 2). Tickets for the matches in Miami and the Bronx are on sale and can be purchased by clicking here. Following that series they will host Russia in three games in July on the West Coast with stops in San Diego, CA (July 21), Los Angeles, CA (July 24), and Palo Alto, CA (July 27). Tickets for the match in San Diego are currently available and can be purchased by clicking here.
Scoring
USA 13 (3, 4, 3, 3) C. Mathewson 2, M. Musselman 2, M. Steffens 2, M. Seidemann 1, R. Fattal 1, K. Clark 1, K. Neushul 1, K. Gilchrist 1, M. Fischer 1, K. Craig 1
ESP 9 (2, 2, 3, 2)
Saves – USA – A. Johnson 9
6×5 – USA – 6/9 – ESP – 5/8
Penalties – USA – 0/0 – ESP – 0/0
Swimming news courtesy of USA Water Polo.
