The USA Women picked up their second straight victory at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament with a 16-5 defeat of Kazakhstan. This moves Team USA to 2-0 in Group A play in a tie for first place with Canada. Team USA will meet Canada on Thursday evening at 7:30pm. Jillian Kraus (Santa Ana, CA/UCLA/SOCAL) led the offense with three goals while EB Keeve (Naperville, Ill/Arizona State/West Suburban) went the distance in net with nine saves.
In other day two action, China throttled Venezuela 24-6, Canada defeated Japan 15-6, and Australia held off Brazil 9-6. Details on all the matches including schedules, results, scoresheets, streaming information and more is available by clicking here. All matches are being streamed live on CoachesAid.com, an all session pass is available for 25 dollars offering all matches live and on-demand.
Team USA came out with a great start and a balanced attack that saw 10 different players score goals. Team USA opened with three unanswered goals in the first three minutes before Kazakhstan answered with their first goal. Once more Team USA responded with a goal but Kazakhstan was quick to answer that goal making it a close game at 4-2. The first half ended with a 6-2 lead by United States, but once the second half was under way the U.S. took the reigns and scored six goals that went unanswered. At the start of the third period Jillian Kraus managed to put it in the back of the net to stretch the lead to 13-2. Natalya Shepelina of Kazakhstan got one past Keeve for a 13-3 score but by then it was too late. Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar HS/CdM Aquatics) followed with an outside shot for a 14-3 lead and Team USA would go on to take the match by a score of 16-5.
The United States offense was led by Jillian Kraus with three goals. Other scorers included: Madeline Rosenthal (1),Marisa Young (1), Colleen O’Donnell (2), KK Clark (2), Kaleigh Gilchrist (2), Priscilla Orozco (1), Maddie Musselman (1),Makenzie Fischer (1), Kami Craig (2). Kazakhstan goals were scored by the following: Natalya Shepelina(1), Anna Turova(1), Anastassiya Mirshina(1), Zamaria Myrzabekova(1), Marina Gritsenko(1).
Team U.S. Scorers: Jillian Kraus(3), Kaleigh Gilchrist(3), Madeline Roesnthal(1), Marisa Young(1), Colleen O’Donnell(2), KK Clark(2), Priscilla Orozco(1), Maddie Musselman(1), Makenzie Fischer(1), Kami Craig(2).
Team Kazakhstan Scorers: Natalya Shepelina(1), Anna Turova(1), Anastassiya Mirshina(1), Zamaria Myrzabekova(1), Marina Gritsenko(1).
Courtesy of USA Water Polo
