USA Women Advance To FINA Water Polo Super Finals Semifinals With 7-4 Defeat Of Canada

LA JOLLA, California, July 2. THE USA Women's Senior National Team advanced into the semi-finals of the FINA World League Super Final following a 7-4 victory over Canada. The win sends the USA to a rematch with Greece on Friday evening at 7pm pst. In the win over Canada it was a come from behind effort as the United States erased a three goal first quarter deficit with a 7-1 run to close out the game en route to the lead and the win.

The first quarter was all Canada as they tallied three straight scores to take a commanding 3-0 lead going to the second. After that it was all Team USA as they rallied in the second stanza thanks two consecutive goals from Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara WPF) and another score from Tanya Gandy (San Diego, CA/SD Shores) for a 3-3 game going into halftime.

In the third quarter it was more of the same and the United States took their first lead of the match with a score from Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce) to go up 4-3. After Canada tied the match on a penalty shot the United States defense would not allow another score. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) posted seven saves in the victory and came up with several key second half saves as the United States thwarted 15 power plays from Canada over the course of the match.

Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) found the net from in close for a 5-4 lead to close out the third quarter. In the final frame it was more Wenger as she shoveled home a missed shot from right in front of the net for a 6-4 lead. Then later in the quarter it was Villa who concluded things with her second score of the night for a 7-4 lead, which was also the final score of the match.

Team USA went 4-13 on power plays while Canada was just 2-15 on power plays and 1-1 on penalty shots. The United States and Greece meet on Friday in the semi-finals, the United States were victorious 11-9 on the opening night of the tourney. The other semi-final features Australia and Russia, the title match will be held at 4:30pm pst on Saturday.

USA 7 (0,3,2,2) L. Wenger 2, B. Villa 2, K. Craig 2, T. Gandy 1.
CAN 4 (3,0,1,0) E. Csikos 2, J. Bekhazi 1, T. Campbell 1.

Saves
USA- B. Armstrong 7
CAN- R. Ridell 6

6×5 – USA 4-13 – CAN – 2-15
Penalties – USA 0-0 – CAN 1-1

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