USA 16 Canada 5 (scroll down for USA-Russia)
The USA Women’s National Team picked up their second straight win at the FINA World League Super Final with a 16-5 win over Canada. Alys Williams (Huntington Beach, CA/UCLA/HBWPC) scored four goals to lead the offensive outburst while Sami Hill (Santa Barbara, CA/UCLA/SBWPF) posted nine saves in net. Team USA finishes group play on Thursday with a match against Spain, the defending world champion. Fans can also catch the USA Women in action today on Universal Sports at 6pm et/3pm pt when a replay of the title match from the FINA Intercontinental Tournament is shown.
In the match against Canada, the United States was in control throughout. After a 1-1 tie early in the first period, they exploded for four straight goals to take a 5-1 lead in the second period. Canada answered with a score to make it 5-2, but Team USA responded with three more goals from Kaleigh Gilchrist (Newport Beach, CA/USC/Trojan), Kiley Neushul (Goleta, CA/Stanford/SBWPF) and Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL).
Ahead 8-2 at halftime, the United States piled it on to open the third with two straight goals from Williams for a 10-2 lead. Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) and Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/SBWPF) finished the period with goals and the United States remained in control up 12-3. Three more goals early in the fourth, including two fromMakenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) put the game away with the United States leading 15-3. Two late goals from Canada wouldn’t factor in the decision and the United States came away winners at 16-5.
“We played a complete game today but we need to stay focused for the rest of the tournament,” said USA Head Coach Adam Krikorian.
Scoring
USA 16 (4, 4, 4, 4) A. Williams 4, A. Dries 3, R. Fattal 2, M. Fischer 2, K. Neushul 2, K. Craig 1, M. Seidemann 1, K. Gilchrist 1
CAN 5 (1, 1, 1, 2)
Saves – USA – S. Hill – 9
6×5 – USA – 3/4 – CAN – 1/4
Penalties – USA – 0/0 – CAN – 0/0
USA 11 Russia 10 (Shootout)
The USA Women’s Senior National Team opened play at the FINA World League Super Final with an 11-10 shootout victory over Russia. Kiley Neushul (Goleta, CA/Stanford/SBWPF) scored the winner in the shootout and added two goals in regulation. Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo) scored three goals in regulation to help pace the offense, while Sami Hill (Santa Barbara, CA/UCLA/SBWPF) went the distance in net for the win. Team USA is back in action on Wednesday when they meet Canada. Action from the recently completed FINA Intercontinental Tournament will air today and tomorrow on Universal Sports. Watch the United States take on China today at 6pm et/3pm pt and Australia tomorrow at 6pm et/3pm pt.
It was a close match throughout with Steffens scoring the first goal of the game only to have Russia answer for a 1-1 match after one period. Russia would take a 3-2 lead at halftime after outscoring the United States 2-1 in the second. Steffens scored first in the third to tie the match at 3-3 but Russia answered with a goal for a 4-3 lead headed to the fourth.
Neushul scored to open the fourth and then after Russia went ahead 5-4 Rachel Fattal (Seal Beach, CA/UCLA/SOCAL) netted the equalizer to make it 5-5. Steffens scored her third with 1:41 to play in the match for a 6-5 lead. That wouldn’t last as Russia found the cage with just 12 seconds remaining to tie the match and force the shootout.
In the shootout each team recorded a save through the first five shooters. In the sixth round Neushul connected while the Russian shooter Krimer was blocked by Hill, leaving the United States with a one goal victory.
Scoring
USA 6 (1, 1, 1, 3) M. Steffens 3, K. Neushul 2, R. Fattal 1
RUS 6 (1, 2, 1, 2)
Shootout
USA 5 (K. Neushul 2, M. Steffens, K. Gilchrist, A. Dries
RUS 4
Swimming News / Water Polo News is courtesy of USA Water Polo.
