USA Women Edge Great Britain 7-6 To Advance To Title Match Of VISA Water Polo International

LONDON, England, May 5.THE USA Women's National Team advanced to the championship of the VISA Water Polo International with a 7-6 win over Great Britain. In front of a near capacity crowd at the Olympic Water Polo Arena, Team USA held off an upstart Great Britain team to take the one goal victory. Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo) and Jessica Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC) each scored twice and Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) posted 10 saves in the win. The squad now advances to take on Australia for the championship on Sunday at 11:20am local time.

The United States got off to a stellar start jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Two straight power play goals from Maggie Steffens opened up a 2-0 lead with 5:45 to go. Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) followed with a cross cage lob for a 3-0 lead, then Jessica Steffens added a power play score from in close for a 4-0 lead. Team USA missed a chance for a five goal lead on a failed penalty shot conversion. With just 29 seconds left in the period Great Britain got their first goal of the day to close out the first trailing 4-1.

The momentum carried into the second period for Great Britain as they scored back to back power play goals to close within 4-3 with 4:19 left. Three minutes later Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) got one back on an inside score to go up 5-3 with just :55 left. Great Britain had an answer on their next possession with a lob shot score to draw within 5-4 going into halftime.

In the third, goals came at a premium, with only Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) scoring for the United States to take a 6-4 lead going to the fourth. Four minutes into the final period Great Britain again got to within a goal at 6-5. Just 90 seconds later Jessica Steffens added her second goal on a lob shot to build the lead back to two. The USA defense did the job from there keeping Great Britain at bay. A final goal from the home team with just five seconds left did not factor in the decision and the United States took the game 7-6.

Team USA went 3/6 on power plays while Great Britain was 3/10. The United States was 0/1 on penalty shots and Great Britain did not attempt a penalty shot.

Scoring
USA 7 (4, 1, 1, 1) M. Steffens 2, J. Steffens 2, B. Villa 1, L. Wenger 1, A. Dries 1
GBR 6 (1, 3, 0, 2)
Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 10
6×5 – USA – 3/6 – GBR – 3/10
Penalties – USA – 0/1 – GBR – 0/0

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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