Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS
By Dan D’Addona
The U.S. women’s water polo team continued its dominant start to the 2016 Rio Olympic with another lopsided victory.
Maddie Musselman and Maggie Steffens each scored four goals as the U.S. routed China 12-4 in the second round of pool play on Thursday.
Kaleigh Gilchrist scored twice while Makenzie Fischer and Kami Craig each added a goal.
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Johnson turned in another strong performance in goal with eight saves in three quarters. Sami Hill finished off the fourth quarter in goal for the U.S. and stopped three of the four shots she faced.
The defense in front of Johnson and Hill was gritty, totaling eight steals and six field blocks.
The U.S. remain in first place in Group B with one game remaining in pool play. The Americans will face Hungary on Friday.
China dropped to 0-2 and will face Spain on Friday.
Spain 11, Hungary 10
Judith Forca Ariza scored in the fourth quarter as Spain held off Hungary in the fourth quarter to earn an 11-10 victory on Friday.
Spain led 10-7 entering the fourth quarter and was able to hang on.
Hungary led by as many as two and had a chance to tie late in the fourth but couldn’t find the back of the net. Barbara Bujka scored twice for Hungary (1-1), which will face the U.S. on Friday.
Spain (1-1) faces China on Friday.
Italy 8, Australia 7
Roberta Bianconi scored a power play goal with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Italy an 8-7 victory over Australia on Friday.
Australia had one final attempt, but Italy goalie Guilia Gorlero made the final of her 10 saves in the match.
Arianna Garibotti scored three goals to lead Italy (2-0), which will face Russia on Friday.
Australia (1-1) had a goal by Rowie Webster with 2:37 to go to tie the match. The Aussies will face host Brazil on Friday.
Russia 14, Brazil 7
Russia used an offensive explosion in the fourth quarter to surge past host Brazil 14-7 on Friday.
Russia led by just two heading into the fourth quarter, but scored five more in the fourth to cruise past the host country.
Evgeniya Ivanova and Ekaterina Prokofyeva led Russia with three goals apiece. Anna Karnaukh played the final three quarters in goal and made nine saves for Russia (1-1), which will face Italy on Friday.
Brazil (0-2), which played well in the first half went into halftime tied 4-4. The hosts will faces Australia on Friday.
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