USA Women’s National Team Defeats China 10-9; Will Play For Gold At FINA Water Polo World Cup

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, August 21. THE USA Women's National Team will play for Gold at the FINA World Cup after defeating China 10-9 in the semifinal round. Three goals by Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/NYAC) and stellar even strength defense spurred the team to a victory over the previously undefeated Chinese. The win pushes Team USA into the title match with Australia and assures the United States of their first World Cup medal since 2002.

The United States wasted no time in scoring as just 49 seconds into the match Kelly Rulon (Point Loma, CA/NYAC) worked inside on a power play and found the cage for a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Tulatin Hills) drew a five meter penalty and Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) converted for a quick 2-0 advantage. China would get on the board around the four minute mark for a 2-1 game but the United States quickly answered when Mathewson hit from six meters deep for a 3-1 lead after one period of play.

In the second quarter China found an offensive rhythm piling up three straight goals in the first four minutes and change to take a 4-3 lead, their first lead of the night. The red, white, and blue showed off their resiliency with a rally started by Rulon dropping in a lob shot for a 4-4 match. The USA held off a power play try by the Chinese on a save by Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) one of her eight on the night. After that it was two more goals from Team USA, the first coming from Mathewson who hit a penalty shot after Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) drew the penalty. Then Dries had her chance to shoot when she powered inside with less than a minute remaining in the period for a 6-4 lead going into intermission.

The third quarter saw the teams trading goals which and China started first with a skip shot on a power play at the 6:21 mark in the period for a 6-5 game. Again the USA countered when Windes drilled a shot from deep for a 7-5 lead. China answered with a goal using a player advantage and it was 7-6, but the United States came back with just 14 seconds left in the period when Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce) fed Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) on a one-timer for an 8-6 lead going to the fourth.

Less than thirty seconds into the final period China scored and they were back within a goal at 8-7. The two sides traded defensive stops until the 3:45 mark when Craig wheeled inside for a goal and a 9-7 lead. Mathewson came calling again at the 2:51 mark burying a shot from deep for a 10-7 lead and a three goal cushion. China wouldn't go away scoring a power play goal at the 1:48 mark to draw within two goals at 10-8. The United States was then able to whittle down the clock on offense as Craig drew an exclusion to prolong the USA possession at the 1:14 mark. China would get one last score on a power play with just 20 seconds remaining to draw within a goal at 10-9. The United States was able to salt away the rest of the clock and come out victorious at 10-9.

Team USA went 2/6 on power plays while China was 7/11. The United States went 2/2 on penalty shots. Australia and the United States meet for the second time this week and the sixth time this summer. Australia won earlier this week 7-5 in group play and defeated the United States last week in Sydney to claim the Six Nations Tourney crown. The United States defeated Australia twice in July in La Jolla, CA in winning Gold at the FINA World League Super Final. The match is set for 2pm local time August 22 in New Zealand/ 7:00pm pacific time on August 21

Quarters: 3-1, 3-3, 2-2, 2-3
Referees: Radu MATACHE (ROU), Balasz FEKETE (HUN) Extra Man: USA 2/6 plus 2/2 on penalty. CHN: 7/11
Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 8
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG (C), Anne BELDEN, Brenda VILLA, Margaret STEFFENS, Juliet MOSS, Courtney MATHEWSON (3), Lauren SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON (2), Annika DRIES (1), Kameryn CRAIG (2), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Emily FEHER. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
CHINA: YANG Jun, TENG Fei (1), LIU Ping (1), SUN Yujun (1), HE Jin, SUN Yating, SONG Donglun, GAO Ao (5), WANG Yi (1), MA Huanhuan, SUN Huizi (C), ZHANG Lei, CHEN Yuan. Head Coach: Juan JANE GIRALT.

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.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use