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<\/p>\nOn a day when little held true to form on the women\u2019s side of the 2017 FINA World Championships, there was one constant: defending champion Team USA. A 7-5 quarterfinal victory over Australia advances the Americans into a semifinal match Wednesday\u2019s against Russia, a surprise winner over Group A leader Italy. On the other side of the bracket, Group C winner Hungary was upset 6-4 by Canada, while Spain outscored Greece 4-2 in penalty shots to take a 14-12 decision and join the other three winners in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
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As they have all tournament, the U.S. broke out to a lead; in this instance it took a while for its offense to get untracked. Following a scoreless first period, the U.S. took a 3-0 lead on the strength of back-to-back goals by Jordan Raney<\/strong> and a score by Maddie Musselman<\/strong>. The Americans went up by 5-2 in the third on goals by Melissa Seidemann<\/strong> and Jamie Neushul<\/strong>, then withstood a late Australian comeback that brought them within two but no closer.<\/p>\n With the win, Team USA made history, as never before had a women’s Olympic champion advanced to the medal round at FINA Worlds the following year. Of course, the goal\u2014as always\u2014is gold, and the U.S. is primed for this possibility now that its biggest challengers have fallen by the wayside.<\/p>\n Given their raucous crowds and experience against the Americans\u2014besides meeting in Olympic play last year the two teams have played numerous friendlies recently\u2014the host Hungarians were perhaps the most potent threat to a second straight U.S. title. But Hungary\u2019s grasp at history\u2014having two teams medal at the same FINA World Championships\u2014were dashed by a different North American team. Canada, which this year has seen a pronounced uptick in its water polo fortunes, including a silver at the World League Super Final, dealt their host a mortal blow.<\/p>\n