Press Release courtesy of USA Water Polo
In front of a capacity crowd at Foothill High School the USA Women’s National Team wasted little time exciting their fans on the way to a 14-1 victory over China. On an evening where two-time Olympic gold medalist Courtney Mathewson was recognized following her retirement announcement, Team USA jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the way to a dominant win. Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL) and Brigitta Games (Littleton, CO/USC/NYAC) scored three goals each to pace the offense. Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC), Gabby Stone (La Jolla, CA/Stanford/SD Shores) and Amanda Longan (Moorpark, CA/USC/Santa Barbara 805) combined for 12 saves in net. To watch a full replay of the match, click here.
Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) started the scoring with a lob shot in the opening 21 seconds for a 1-0 lead. Games followed up with a goal less than two minutes later and Fattal added a score prior to the five minute mark for a 3-0 lead. Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/CDM Aquatics) and Jordan Raney (Manhattan Beach, CA/Stanford/Huntington Beach WP) added goals to close out the first period and Team USA quickly built a 5-0 lead.
Games opened the scoring in the second quarter followed by deliveries from Fattal and Jamie Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/Santa Barbara 805) for an 8-0 lead at intermission. Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) and Games added goals in the third quarter and Team USA took a 10- lead into the final period. They added four more goals in the fourth, the last coming from Fattal with under two minutes to play to secure the victory.
Team USA went 4/8 on power plays while China went 0/4 with neither side attempting a penalty shot.
USA 14 (5, 3, 2, 4) R. Fattal 3, B. Games 3, M. Musselman 1, M. Seidemann1, M. Steffens 1, J. Raney 1, K. Neushul 1, A. Fischer 1, J. Neushul 1, M. Fischer 1
CHN 1 (0, 0, 0, 1) Deng Zewen 1
Saves – USA – A. Johnson 5, A. Longan 4, G. Stone 3 – CHN P. Lin 5, S. Yineng 1
6×5 – USA – 4/8 – CHN – 0/4
Penalties – USA – 0/0 – CHN 0/0
Which Foothill High school & where please? There is more than one depending on location. TY