USA Women Fall Short To Australia 7-5 On Day Two Of FINA Water Polo World Cup

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, August 18. DESPITE a spirited third quarter rally by the USA Women's National Team it was not enough as they fell to Australia 7-5 on day two of the FINA World Cup. Two goals for Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin) and Kelly Rulon (Point Loma, CA/NYAC) led the USA offense while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) was stellar in the cage stopping several would be goals en route to 12 saves.

The first quarter started off slow for both sides as there were just two goals scored between them. Australia struck first with a counter attack score at the 5:32 mark to take a 1-0 lead. Team USA appeared to even the match when Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Tulatin Hills) leaked inside for an easy score but the tally was called back for encroachment inside the two meter line. The matter was rectified moments later when Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) delivered a lob shot with just :59 remaining in the period to tie the match at 1-1.

That was the score to open the second quarter in a period that belonged to the Aussies. The green and gold scored early to grab a 2-1 lead less than a minute into the period. Over the next several minutes Armstrong posted two big saves including one right on her doorstep to keep the match at 2-1. Australia broke through with 1:26 left in the second quarter on a counter attack score for a 3-1 lead and followed it with a buzzer beating shot from outside to close the half leading 4-1.

What the second quarter was to the Australians, the third quarter was to Team USA, a time for the offense to shine. Belden notched her first score of the match on a power play try and then some ninety seconds later Rulon found herself all alone for a score to bring the match to 4-3. After a missed penalty try that would have tied the match the red, white, and blue found the equalizer courtesy of Belden on a counter attack goal and the match was tied at 4-4. Australia continued their last second dramatics as they buried a shot from deep with just 37 second remaining in the period to re-take the lead at 5-4 headed to the fourth quarter.

Australia came knocking on the door early in the fourth and gain Armstrong was there for the save at the 5:55 mark. However that was followed by the Aussie's Gemma Beadsworth turning in a spectacular goal out of two meters to go up 6-4. Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) drew a five meter penalty towards the mid-point of the period and Rulon came through on the penalty shot to again climb within a score at 6-5. The two teams would trade possessions over the next few moments until Australia delivered the backbreaker at the 1:47 mark converting on a penalty shot try to take a 7-5 lead. Final chances by the United States including a power play shot with 1:06 went by the boards and Australia came away with the two goal victory.

Part of the struggles for the United States lied in the power plays where Team USA went just 1-7 while Australia was 2-6. The Aussies went 1/1 on penalty shots while the United States was 1/2. Next up for the United States is a match with New Zealand at 7:30pm local time 12:30am pacific time on August 19.

Quarters: 1-1, 0-3, 3-1, 1-2
Referees: Nikolaos VASILEIOU (GRE), Balazs FEKETE (HUN) Extra Man: USA: 1/7 plus 1/2 penalty; AUS:2/6 plus 1/1 on penalty
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG (C), Anne BELDEN (2), Brenda VILLA, Margaret STEFFENS, Juliet MOSS, Courtney MATHEWSON, Lauren SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON (2), Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG, Melissa SEIDEMANN, Emily FEHER. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
AUSTRALIA: Victoria BROWN, Gemma BEADSWORTH, Sophie SMITH, Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Jane MORAN, Bronwen KNOX (C), Rowena WEBSTER, Glencora RALPH, Zoe ARANCINI, Ashleigh SOUTHERN, Melissa RIPPON, Nicola ZAGAME, Lea BARTA.
Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.

Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 12

Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) ‹ Head Coach
I think in the beginning of the game we seemed a little hurried offensively obviously we struggled to put away some opportunities as well in the first two quarters and that really hurt us, but we did a nice job battling back and actually I thought we had plenty of opportunities, we missed a penalty, we missed at least one or two more one on no ones and we went 1/7 on power plays. So we are disappointed with the loss but at the same time I thought we played ok. The most important thing for us is to learn from it and move on. You don't have any time in this tournament to sulk you just have to get ready for your next opponent.

She (Armstrong) played great and I thought defensively we were good like yesterday, and we talked about this going into the rest of the week,that is definitely a positive, that's two good defensive efforts in a row and now we just need to continue that momentum the rest of the way.

I think it's always going to be a little bit more physical with Australia because they are so physical around the perimeter and at two meters and I think that is just the style of game. If we happen to see them again I think the level of execution and energy will probably be greater.

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