Women’s Water Polo: USA, Australia Tie, 6-6

CANBERRA, September 10. TO understrength national squads went head to head and came up with a 6-all draw at the Bruce Swimming Hall here last night.

The rematch of the Olympic finalists — Australia and the United States of America — produced a wonderful spectacle but no clear winner as Olympic champion Melissa Mills clinched the draw 18 seconds from time on the power play.

There were just nine Olympians in the water with Australia fielding three and the USA six in a match which celebrated 21 years of the Australian Institute of Sport.

The AIS squad, without Olympians Naomi Castle and Taryn Woods and current internationals Rebecca and Melissa Rippon, tackled a strong USA team without
injured Brenda Villa and Coralie Simmons, who both sat on the sideline.

The first quarter was locked at 2-2 with the home team taking a 3-2 lead at halftime thanks to senior squad newcomer Amy Hetzel.

Olympic silver medalist Heather Moody and world junior champion Amber Stachowski brought USA level at 4-4 after Rana Tito scored, setting up a gripping final quarter. The teams swapped goals with Tito and Beauregard scoring their second goals before Stachowski took the USA ahead, only to see Mills close the gap.

Australian head coach Istvan Gorgenyi said it was a tough. close game with many of his younger squad members firing at this level.

The squads are having nine training games during the visit, a vital build-up to December¹s World Cup in Perth, where the top eight teams in the world will
compete.

Results:
International, Canberra:
Australia 6 (M Mills, R Tito 2, J Flaskas, A Hetzel)
USA 6 (R Beauregard, A Stachowski 2, H Moody, M Dingeldein)

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