U.S. Women’s Water Polo Ties The Netherlands, 6-6

NEWPORT BEACH,California, December 10. THE top-ranked United States of America opened the Holiday Cup with a 6-6 tie against defending Olympic Gold Medalist, the Netherlands. Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA) led Team USA with three goals including two in the fourth quarter to pace the United States effort. Nienke Vermeer was the top scorer for the Dutch posting three tallies as well. Team USA is back in action tomorrow night against Italy, while the Netherlands will take on Russia.

Team USA got started in the first quarter at the 3:35 mark when Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA) fed Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA) for the goal out of two meters for a 1-0 advantage. The Netherlands would tie the score at the 1:40 mark only to see Kiley Neushul (Santa Barbara, CA) rip the net on a power play for a 2-1 lead to end the period.

In the second quarter it was more Craig as she worked downlow to draw a five meter penalty which was converted by Silver on a off-the-bar-off-the-goalie and in score to take a 3-1 lead. The Dutch countered with consecutive scores to tie the game at 3-3 with 1:25 to go until halftime. It was all knotted up at 3-3 coming out of the intermission when Rulon put one home on the nearside in a 6×5 advantage for a 4-3 lead. The Netherlands answered back with two straight goals, the last coming on a player advantage with :45 left in the third period for a 5-4 lead.

The fourth quarter was all Silver as she opened the scoring for the period with a shot from about seven meters out to tie the game at 5-5. The Netherlands scored on a broken play with 3:16 remaining to take a 6-5 lead in the fourth quarter. Silver came back with another shot from deep to tie the game at 6-6 and had a shot for the lead but just missed on the attempt. Following attempts would prove fruitless for both squads as the game ended in a 6-6 standstill.

Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI) posted six saves for the United States while Ilse Van Der Meiden piled up 14 saves for the Netherlands. Team USA was 2-8 on player advantages while the Netherlands were 1-4.

Scoring:

USA 6 (2, 1, 1, 2) L. Silver 3, K. Rulon 1, K. Craig 1, K. Neushul 1
NED 6 (1, 2, 2, 1) N. Vermeer 3, Y. Smit 2, M. Cabout 1

Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 6 – NED – I. Van Der Meiden 14

6×5 – USA 2/8 – NED – ¼

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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