US Women Back In Win Column, Men Fall Short As Water Polo Wraps in Brisbane

Courtesy: USA Water Polo

Brisbane, Australia – January 18 – The USA Women’s National Team got back in the win column today with a 10-7 win over Australia to close out a three-game series in Brisbane. The win follows the end of a record 69-game win streak for Team USA on Thursday in Australia. Stephania Haralabidis (Athens, Greece/USC/NYAC) led the way with three goals with Ashleigh Johnson (Miami, FL/Princeton/NYAC) adding nine saves in net. The USA Men’s National Team closed out their competition in Australia with a 14-8 loss to the Sharks. Alex Bowen (Santee, CA/Stanford/NYAC) had a monster outing with five goals in the loss while Jack Turner (Fremont, CA/UC San Diego/Tritons) went the distance in net. For more information on the series, click here. To see the USA rosters in Australia, click here for the men and click here for the women.

The USA Women opened up with a 2-1 lead after the first quarter and held a 3-2 lead at intermission. Australia battled back in the third quarter outscoring Team USA 4-2 to take a 6-5 lead into the fourth quarter. In the final eight minutes the United States took control limiting Australia to just one goal while scoring five of their own. The five goals put Team USA back in the lead on the way to the three goal victory. Team USA went 2/10 on power plays while Australia went 4/10 with neither side attempting a penalty.

The USA Men and Australia started off as a high scoring affair with each side delivering four goals in the first quarter. The two kept pace in the second with two more goals each leading to a 6-6 tie at halftime. In the third Australia pushed ahead for a 9-8 advantage going to the fourth. The home team got hot in the fourth outscoring Team USA 5-0 to expand their lead out to six on the way to the victory.

The USA Women won their three-game series 2-1 while the Australia men won their series 2-1. With $100 for every Australian goal scored going towards the WWF bushfire appeal, the Australian Water Polo teams raised $2100 tonight. Across the three test series they raised $6,200 for State Volunteer Fire Services, Australian Red Cross and WWF.

MEN
FULL TIME: AUS 14 – USA 8
QUARTER TIME: 4-4, 2-2, 3-2, 5-0

AUSTRALIA: 1. Anthony Hrysanthos 2. Richie Campbell 3. George Ford 4. Joe Kayes (1) 5. Nathan Power 6. Lachlan Edwards (5) 7. Aidan Roach  8. Aaron Younger (4) 9. Andrew Ford 10. Tim Putt 11. Nic Brooks (1) 12. Blake Edwards (2) 14. Lachlan Hollis (1)

USA: 1. Jack Turner 2. Matthew Farmer 3. Marko Vacic 4. Alexander Obert 5. Benjamin Hallock (1) 6. Luca Cupido 7. Jake Ehrhardt 8. Bennett Williams 9. Alexander Bowen (5) 10. Chancellor Ramirez (1) 11. Dylan Woodhead 12. Tyler Abramson (1)

WOMEN
FULL TIME: AUS 7 – USA 10
QUARTER TIME: 1-2, 1-1, 4-2, 1-5

AUSTRALIA: 1. Gabi Palm 2. Keesja Gofers (2) 3. Hannah Buckling 4. Bronte Halligan 5. Abby Andrews (1) 6. Bron Knox 7. Rowie Webster (2) 8. Amy Ridge (1) 9. Zoe Arancini (1) 10. Lena Mihailovic 11. Elle Armit 12. Matilda Kearns 13. Lea Yanitsas

USA: 1. Gabby Stone 2. Maddie Musselman 3. Melissa Seidemann (1) 4. Rachel Fattal (2) 5. Paige Hauschild (1) 6. Maggie Steffens (1) 7. Stephania Haralabidis (3) 8. Kiley Neushul 9. Aria Fischer 11. Makenzie Fischer (1) 12. Alys Williams (1) 13. Ashleigh Johnson 14. Jamie Neushul