USA Women Open FINA Water Polo World Cup With 14-10 Victory Over Russia

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, August 17. THE USA Women's National Team opened up the FINA World Cup in strong fashion with a convincing 14-10 victory over Russia. Behind four goals from Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) and three from Kelly Rulon (Point Loma, CA/NYAC) the United States built an early lead and never looked back in scoring the tourney's first victory.

The United States opened the game with a power play skip shot goal courtesy of Silver for a 1-0 lead and less than a minute later Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) powered inside out of two meters for a tally to build a 2-0 advantage. Russia got on the board on a rebound shot with 4:16 left but that was countered some thirty seconds later as Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/NYAC) used a player advantage for a 3-1 lead to close out the first period.

The second quarter belonged to the United States as they exerted themselves on the offensive end when Silver again scored on a power play for a 4-1 lead and then she hit again on a penalty shot thanks to a drawn penalty by Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) and it was quickly 5-1 USA. It was more Silver on a penalty shot, this one was drawn by Juliet Moss (San Jose, CA/SJ Splash) and Team USA was cruising up 6-1 with 4:22 left in the first half. Russia got a goal back twenty seconds later on a penalty shot but that was answered by a score from Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Tulatin Hills WP) at the 2:58 mark. Windes was able to drag several defenders to the cage on a counter attack to make it a 7-2 game. Russia would close out the scoring in the period with an outside shot but the red, white, and blue remained in command up 7-3 at halftime.

Russia looked to chip away at the start of the third quarter drawing to within 7-4 a little over a minute into the period but another Russian exclusion led to a score for the United States when Rulon stuffed one home on the nearside for an 8-4 lead. The see-saw action continued in the third with Russia scored only to be countered by tally from Craig on a player advantage for a 9-5 lead. Again Russia responded with a score and again Craig responded with a goal from in front of the cage for a 10-6 lead. With 1:45 left in the quarter Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin) struck from the far side with a lob shot and the United States was back on cruise control with an 11-6 advantage. Russia quickly silenced that with consecutive goals to close out the period and it was 11-8 in favor Team USA as play moved to the fourth quarter.

In the final period the offense remained at full strength for the United States when Dries dropped home a fadeaway out of two meters just 25 seconds into the period for a 12-8 lead. Some two minutes later Rulon came calling again hitting on a power play goal, the seventh extra woman goal of the night and it was a 13-8 lead. Russia tried to get back into the match with a lob shot to draw within 13-9 but again Rulon was there cashing in a missed shot for a 14-9 lead. The final dagger was delivered when Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) stopped a Russian penalty try and the United States came away with the win at 14-10.

Armstrong finished with eight saves in the victory while the United States went 7/10 on power plays and Russia was 3/6. The United States went 2/2 on penalty shots and Russia was 1/2. Next up for the United States will be Australia on Wednesday at 4:30pm local New Zealand time. The two squads have met four times recently, splitting the contests with Australia winning the last two, last week in Sydney.

FLASH QUOTES:
Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) ‹ Head Coach
It was a good start, we wanted to play better than we did in Sydney and get off to a positive start and I think that is exactly what we did today. I'm happy offensively, obviously we had a very good day and although we gave up ten goals I feel like we were much better defensively than we were last week and that¹s a positive sign to take in the next few games.

Six games in six days is tough no question so we are going to be smart about how we play this group play and make sure everyone gets an opportunity and equal playing time and that is certainly what happened today. I was subbing pretty freely and I think you can expect that to continue in the next couple of games.”
Alexandr KABANOV (RUS) ‹ Head Coach

We were still sleeping at the start and only woke up in the second half. Then we warmed up. This was not as good as we can play. We know we can played much better. Considering the system of the tournament this game was not as important as later in the week but now we have no idea who we will play in the quarter-finals. We just need to find our game and play to our maximum ability. The USA played a much higher level and had more desire today.”
Sofya KONUKH (RUS) ‹ Captain

It's the same as the coach says. We played at a different time to Sydney in the afternoon instead oft evening and we are still adjusting.”

Quarters: 3-1, 4-2, 4-5, 3-2
Referees: Balazs FEKETE (HUN), Stephane ROY (CAN)
Extra Man: USA 7/10 and 2/2 on penalty; RUS 3/6 and 1/2 on penalty
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG (C), Anne BELDEN (1), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA, Margaret STEFFENS, Juliet MOSS, Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Lauren SILVER (4), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON (3), Annika DRIES (2), Kameryn CRAIG (2), Emily FEHER. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
RUSSIA: Evgeniya PROTSENKO, Nadezda GLYZINA (1), Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA, Sofya KONUKH (C, 4), Evgeniya PUSTYINNIKOVA, Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA, Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Evgenia SOBOLEVA, Anna TIMOFEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA (2), Evgeniya IVANOVA (2), Yulia GAUFLER (1), Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA. Head Coach: Alexandr KABANOV.

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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