Women’s FINA Water Polo SuperfinalFINA Notes on USA Semi-final Game v. Italy

LONG BEACH, June 27.

Game Sixteen: ITALY vrs. USA
ITALY, 9 – USA, 10
( 3:3, 1:2, 1:3, 4-2 )

GAME NOTES:
USA saw it¹s three-goal lead trimmed but held on to beat Italy 10-9

There was little joy for the world champion USA in the early stages with
Martina Miceli lobbing Jacqueline Frank for the opening goal and Manuela
Zanchi accepting a cross pass on deep right-hand catch to score by 5:42.
Then the Brenda Villa factor kicked in as she scored on extra to lift the
huge crowd. They were clearly disappointed with the penalty awarded to
Italy, which Tania Di Mario converted at 3:02 for 3-1. Exit the funereal
atmosphere and enter Villa. She lobbed Italian veteran goalkeeper Francesca
Conti on extra at 2:15. Amber Stachowski was ejected but Italian could not
convert. Stachowski then did her country proud at the other end, scoring
from deep right-hand catch. And 3-3. Italy had a timeout but failed to shoot
within the 14 seconds left on the clock.

Natalie Golda was then the toast of the nation, lobbing Conti off left-hand
catch on the first attack of the third period. Two minutes later, Ericka
Lorenz rose to her hips and targeted the bottom corner for 5-3. The crowd
nearly shook the temporary stands off their foundations! For six long
minutes no goal came and then the USA defence lapsed, letting Maddalena
Musumeci sneak in a cross-cage shot with just 11 seconds left, trailing the
USA 5-4.

Melania Grego levelled early in the fourth period on extra but it wasn¹t
long before the host team pulled away, firstly through Robin Beauregard on
extra from deep right-hand catch and then by captain Heather Moody on
counter-attack at 5:29. Stachowski had the ball down the right and she
flipped it over to Moody who caught in midair and waited for Conti to drop
before pushing the ball into the far side of the goal. Even then Conti got a
hand to it. It was still 7-5 heading into the final three minutes. The USA
took a timeout and Stachowski scored off the left post on extra at 1:27 to
go into the final period with a three-goal lead.

Italy opened the last with a goal to Di Mario on extra. But it was not long
before Villa scored her hat-trick with a solid shot on extra in her favoured
deep right-hand-catch position. It was not to be denied and Grego gained a
second on extra for 9-7. Italy got into all sorts of trouble with twice
having a double exclusion. The first USA shot was blocked but it opened up
for Golda at 4:10 to score and again go three up at 10-7. Italy used a
timeout soon after and Grego sent in her third power-play goal for 10-8. USA
went for a minute break at 2:17 and coach Baker would have been advising
caution and going for the killer tactic. The shot missed and both sides had
chances. Then Di Mario scored on extra at 1:40 to close to 10-9. On the USA
attack, the USA looked hesitant and Estes shot into the wood in the top
corner. Italy advanced and Giusy Malato shot brilliantly on the turn from
two metres, beat Frank in goal but hit the bottom of the upright. USA
retained the ball to advance to the final.

FLASH QUOTES:
USA (10)
COACH: GUY BAKER
ON ITALY’S LAST SHOT ON GOAL: “We played a really poor fourth quarter. We had a chance to go up by three and we didn’t, so if that last goal had gone in, we’d have gotten what we deserved.”
ON HUNGARY: “Hungary will present a whole new set of challenges. They are strong swimmers and all of them come out of the womb shooting.”

PLAYER # 6: NATALIE GOLDA
MINDSET GOING INTO GAME: “We wanted to control the game and set the tempo. Also, try to focus on defense.”
TOUGH GAME: “It was really tough. It was nice to have the crowd on our side.
RIVALRY: “Yes, there is definitely a rivalry. It’s fun to play Italy.”

PLAYER # 13: THALIA MUNRO
MINDSET GOING INTO GAME: “I wanted to make sure that we went all out for all four quarters.”
ROUGH GAME: “It wouldn’t call it unusual. Certain teams are a lot more physical. As long as we play our game then we are good.”
PERFORMANCE: “I thought I played well. Everyone did their part. We played outstanding as a team.”
DIFFERENCE IN THEIR PLAY BETWEEN THIS GAME AND GAME VS RUSSIA: “We came out with more intensity. It’s important to never let down. After Russia’s game we set standards for the next games.”

ITALY (9)
COACH PIERLUIGI FORMICONI

GAME: “It was good for the USA to win, with this being their home crowd.” I’m not happy, it’s normal since we lost.” “I hope for a different result in Athens.” “We’re playing better, and all the teams here are strong.”

COMPOSITION OF TEAM AND SCORERS:

ITALY: 9
Francesca CONTI (GK), Martina MICELI (1), Carmella ALLUCCI, Silvia BOSURGI, Erika LAVA, Manuela ZANCHI (2), Tania DI MARIO (3), Cinzia RAGUSA, Giusi MALATO, Alexandra ARAUJO, Maddalena MUSUMECI (1), Melania GREGO (2), Noemi TOTH, Simona ABBATE
HEAD COACH: Pierluigi FORMICONI

RESULTS SINCE 2000: First place 2001 World Championships; fifth place 2002 World Cup; second place 2003 World Championships.

RESULTS OF FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINALS:
Day One: (1-0) – ITALY defeated HUNGARY, 6-4
Day Two: (2 -0) – ITALY defeated AUSTRALIA, 11-8
Day Three: (3-0) – ITALY defeated CANADA, 13-8
TODAY: (3-1) – ITALY lost to USA, 9-10

TOP ITALY SCORERS IN FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE:
GREGO (11), ZANCHI (7), DI MARIO (7), BOSURGI (5), MALATO (4)

COMPOSITION OF TEAM AND SCORERS:

USA: 10
Nicolle PAYNE, Jacqueline FRANK (GK), Heather PETRI, Ericka LORENZ (1), Brenda VILLA (3), Ellen ESTES, Natalie GOLDA (2), Margaret DINGELDEIN, Kelly RULON, Heather MOODY (1), Robin BEAUREGARD (1), Amber STACHOWSKI (2), Thalia MUNRO
HEAD COACH: Guy BAKER

RESULTS SINCE 2000: Silver medal 2000 Olympic Games, fourth place 2001 World Championships, second place 2002 World Cup, Gold Medal 2003 World Championships

RESULTS OF FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Day One: (1-0) – USA defeated KAZAKHSTAN, 10-4
Day Two: (1-1) – USA lost to RUSSIA, 5-10
Day Three: (2-1) – USA defeated GREECE, 9-7
TODAY: (3-1) – USA defeated ITALY, 10-9

TOP USA SCORERS IN FINA WATER POLO WORLD LEAGUE:
VILLA (8), ESTES (5), LORENZ (5), GOLDA (5), DINGELDEIN (3)

POWER PLAYS:
ITALY: 4/13
USA: 6/19

REFEREES: Stephane ROY (CAN) & Vladimir PRIKODKO (KAZ)

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