CANBERRA, September 10. TO understrength national squads went head to head and came up with a 6-all draw at the Bruce Swimming Hall here last night.<\/p>\n
The rematch of the Olympic finalists — Australia and the United States of America — produced a wonderful spectacle but no clear winner as Olympic champion Melissa Mills clinched the draw 18 seconds from time on the power play.<\/p>\n
There were just nine Olympians in the water with Australia fielding three and the USA six in a match which celebrated 21 years of the Australian Institute of Sport.<\/p>\n
The AIS squad, without Olympians Naomi Castle and Taryn Woods and current internationals Rebecca and Melissa Rippon, tackled a strong USA team without
\ninjured Brenda Villa and Coralie Simmons, who both sat on the sideline.<\/p>\n
The first quarter was locked at 2-2 with the home team taking a 3-2 lead at halftime thanks to senior squad newcomer Amy Hetzel.<\/p>\n
Olympic silver medalist Heather Moody and world junior champion Amber Stachowski brought USA level at 4-4 after Rana Tito scored, setting up a gripping final quarter. The teams swapped goals with Tito and Beauregard scoring their second goals before Stachowski took the USA ahead, only to see Mills close the gap.<\/p>\n
Australian head coach Istvan Gorgenyi said it was a tough. close game with many of his younger squad members firing at this level.<\/p>\n
The squads are having nine training games during the visit, a vital build-up to December\u00b9s World Cup in Perth, where the top eight teams in the world will
\ncompete.<\/p>\n
Results:
\nInternational, Canberra:
\nAustralia 6 (M Mills, R Tito 2, J Flaskas, A Hetzel)
\nUSA 6 (R Beauregard, A Stachowski 2, H Moody, M Dingeldein)<\/p>\n
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