USA Women Thump New Zealand 18-8 At FINA Water Polo World Cup; Hungary Up Next

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, August 19. THE USA Women's National Team rebounded at the FINA World Cup with a strong effort defeating New Zealand 18-8 to finish group play at 2-1. Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) scored three goals to lead a balanced offensive attack that saw 10 of 11 players find the back of the net. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) and Emily Feher (Santa Ana, CA/NYAC) combined for six saves in the net in a strong defensive effort for the United States. Team USA now advances to play Hungary at 4:30pm local time on Friday afternoon (9:30pm pacific time on 8/19).

New Zealand struck first to open the game leading 1-0 but their lead was short lived. Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) got the United States on the board to tie the match at 1-1 and then Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce) stepped up and delivered an outside shot to give Team USA their first lead at 2-1. From there the United States went inside to two meters for a score from Dries and Team USA was up 3-1 with just :31 left in the quarter. New Zealand struck last with a hook shot to close out the period and it was a close match at 3-2 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was all the United States on the offensive end as they piled up three goals. The first came from Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) who spun inside on a counter attack for a 4-2 lead. That was followed by Dries getting inside on a power play for a score. It was then closed out at the 1:29 mark when Kelly Rulon (Point Loma, CA/NYAC) ripped the net on a power play score for a 6-2 lead at halftime.

In the second half it was more of the same when the United States got it started on the an outside shot from Villa to go up 7-2. New Zealand got one back to draw within 7-3 before the USA really started to turn it on offensively as they scored five straight goals to close out the period and take a 12-3 lead to the fourth quarter. The run started at the 3:51 mark when Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin) got it going with a tally which was followed by Dries and then Silver to go up 10-3. At the 57 second mark Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Diablo) drew a five meter penalty which was converted by Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/NYAC) for an 11-3 lead. Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford) closed out the period with a shot from outside with just ten seconds remaining to build the lead to 12-3 going to the fourth.

The fourth quarter was a flurry of goals as each of the teams went back and forth trading scores. With the game already in hand each side took turns scoring and it started with New Zealand finding the cage on a lob for a 12-4 match. Then the alternating began when Belden hit from the outside, New Zealand scored, Juliet Moss (San Jose, CA/SJ Splash) drilled a shot from six meters and it was quickly 14-5 in favor of the United States. Rulon scored for Team USA to go up 15-5 and then New Zealand got one back to draw within 15-6 before Seidemann hit again for a 16-6 game. New Zealand answered at the 1:35 mark on a power play goal to make it 16-7 but then Steffens got her first tally of the game for a 17-7 game. New Zealand had the last word with a score at the :42 mark but the match was well within hand and the United States came away with the 17-8 victory.

Team USA went 3-5 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots while New Zealand was 5-7. The United States meets Hungary for the first time since the Dutch Trophy in 2009, a match won by the Hungarians.

Quarters: 3-2, 3-0, 6-1, 5-5
Referees: Stephane ROY (CAN), NI Shi Wei (CHN) Extra Man: USA: 3/5 plus 1/1 on penalty; NZL: 5/7
Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 5, E. Feher 1
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG (C), Anne BELDEN (2), Brenda VILLA (2), Margaret STEFFENS (2), Juliet MOSS (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Lauren SILVER (2), Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON (2), Annika DRIES (3), Kameryn CRAIG (1), Melissa SEIDEMANN (2), Emily FEHER. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
NEW ZEALAND: Carina HARACHE, Emily COX (2), Emma STONEMAN, Danielle LEWIS, Alexandra BOYD, Lynlee SMITH (1), Isabella MORRISON, Lauren SIEPRATH (2), Anna SIEPRATH (C), Casie BOWRY (2), Kirsten HUDSON (1), Shann ELLS-TEWHIU, Dana HARVEY. Head Coach: Eelco URI.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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