WOMEN'S SENIOR
NATIONAL TEAM FALLS TO RUSSIA 8-7 IN FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL TITLE
GAME
The USA Women's
Senior National Team's bid for a third straight FINA World League Super Final
title was halted by Russia as Team USA lost 8-7 in the championship game. The
loss brings to an end a five game winning streak for Team USA, as they were
unable to come all the way back from a first half deficit. USA goalkeeper Betsey
Armstrong was named outstanding goalkeeper for the tournament.
Russia
took the lead early on going up 3-2 after the first quarter and then built a 5-2
lead at half as Team USA was held scoreless in the second quarter. In the fourth
Team USA rallied outscoring the Russians 3-1 to make it a one goal game at 6-5
in favor of Russia. The final quarter saw each team score two goals apiece and
Team USA was unable to get over the hump falling by a goal 8-7
Heather
Petri and Brenda Villa led the offense with two scores each and Betsey Armstrong
went the whole way in net stopping 10 shots. "Russia played a very good game and
should be congratulated. I liked that we were able to get back into the game in
the second half. This is a good reminder of the small difference between winning
and losing at the international level," said USA Head Coach Guy
Baker.
Next up for the team will be a trip to Greece for common training
and competition in the Thetis Cup.
Scoring:
USA: 7 (2,0,3,2) H.
Petri 2, B. Villa 2, N. Golda 1, E. Windes 1, A. Gregorka 1
RUS: 8
(3,2,1,2)
6x5 -- USA - 4-8 - RUS 3-7
Saves: USA - B. Armstrong 10
GOLDA SCORES
FOUR AS USA WOMEN'S SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM KNOCKS OFF SPAIN 11-9 IN FINAL GAME OF
ROUND ROBIN PLAY; SET TO MEET RUSSIA IN TITLE GAME OF FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER
FINAL
The USA Women's
Senior National Team made it a perfect 5-0 record in round robin play at the
FINA World League Super Final as they defeated Spain 11-9. The team now moves on
to the championship game against Russia on Sunday at 4:00am Pacific Time. Team
USA defeated Russia 10-6 earlier in the week.
As for the victory over
Spain it was Team USA that found themselves down early trailing 2-1 after the
first quarter. In the second they mounted an offensive surge putting in four
goals to just two from Spain and at the half Team USA was in front 5-4. In the
third quarter they built on that lead outscoring Spain 4-3 to take a 9-7 lead in
the final quarter. In the last period each team scored two goals apiece with the
final score ending at 11-9.
Natalie Golda was big on offense putting in
four goals in the victory while Brenda Villa and Kami Craig added two scores
apiece. Jaime Hipp did the job in net recording nine saves. "We did a much
better job tonight attacking a zone defense. We are looking forward to the final
tomorrow against Russia. It will be a very challenging game," said USA Head
Coach Guy Baker.
Scoring:
USA 11 (1,4,4,2) N. Golda 4, B. Villa 2,
K. Craig 2, L. Wenger 1, B. Hayes 1. M. van Norman 1
ESP 9
(2,2,3,2)
6x5 -- USA - 3-6 -- ESP - 6-8
Saves: USA - J. Hipp 8
USA WOMEN'S
SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM EDGES CANADA 6-5 FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT VICTORY AT FINA WORLD
LEAGUE SUPER FINAL; HEADED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The USA Women's
Senior National Team secured a spot in the title game of the FINA World League
Super Final with a 6-5 victory over Canada, their fourth straight win to start
the tournament. The two teams have met up quite often already in 2008 and have
exchanged several close games with this contest being no different. The game was
scoreless after the first period before Team USA broke through with three goals
in the second quarter and led at the half 3-1.
In the third quarter each
team tallied two goals a piece keeping it at a two goal margin for Team USA at
5-3 going to the fourth. In the final quarter Canada would draw to within one at
6-5 as they outscored Team USA 2-1 in the period but would get no closer as USA
hung on for the victory. Team USA was very efficient in their man-up scenarios
going 3-4 in the 6x5 game while Canada was just 1-4. Brittany Hayes led on
offense with two scores while Betsey Armstrong went the whole way in net
impounding nine shots.
"Our games against Canada are always close. Canada
is doing a great job and I am impressed with their approach to this tournament.
The victory secures our position in the championship game and we are very happy
to be back in the title game," said USA Head Coach Guy Baker. Next up for Team
USA will be a match with the host country Spain on Saturday before playing in
the title game against an opponent to be determined on Sunday. Today also marks
the birthday for Team USA's Heather Petri.
Scoring:
USA: 6
(0,3,2,1) B. Hayes 2, E. Figge 1, L. Wenger 1, E. Windes 1, K. Craig 1
CAN: 5
(0,1,2,2) E. Csikos 2, E. Robinson 2, K. Alogbo 1
6x5 -- USA - 3-4 -- CAN
- 1-4
Penalty Shots -- USA - 0-1 -- CAN - 1-1
Saves: B. Armstrong 9
FIGGE PILES
UP THREE GOALS AS WOMEN'S SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM OUTGUNS CHINA 12-9 IN THIRD GAME
OF FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL
It took a full
quarter but eventually the USA Women's Senior National Team offense woke up, and
did so in a major way scoring 12 goals over the final three quarters to defeat
China 12-9 on the third day of the FINA World League Super Final. Erika Figge
was huge on offense scoring three goals en route to the win that saw USA shake
off 15 exclusions and come back from an early 2-0 deficit.
China came out
swinging to start building an early 2-0 lead at the conclusion of the first
quarter. USA responded with gusto in the second quarter tallying five scores and
claiming the lead at halftime at 5-3. In the second half the Chinese offense
returned scoring three times in the third. This was countered by four Team USA
Goals and the lead remained in their favor at 9-6 headed to the fourth
quarter.
In the final quarter China would continue to try and rally
posting three goals but that was matched by three scores from the USA and they
would go on for the victory at 12-9 in the high scoring affair. Figge was joined
on the offensive parade by Patty Cardenas, Alison Gregorka, and Brittany Hayes
who all scored two goals apiece. Lauren Wenger, Heather Petri, and Brenda
Villa added a goal as well while Betsey Armstrong and Jaime Hipp split time in
the cage combining for 12 denials.
"China continues to improve. They
will be very tough at the Olympics, as for us I loved our 5x6 on defense today,"
said USA Head Coach Guy Baker. The next game for Team USA will be on Friday
against Canada at 8:00am Pacific Time
Scoring:
USA: 12 (0,5,4,3)
E. Figge 3, B. Hayes 2, A. Gregorka 2, P. Cardenas 2, L. Wenger 1, H. Petri 1,
B. Villa 1
CHN: 9 (2,1,3,3) Ma 3, Gao 2, Sun 1, Yi Wang 1, Hui Sun
1
6x5 -- USA - 5-6 -- CHN - 5-15
Saves -- USA - B. Armstrong 8, J.
Hipp 4
WOMEN'S SENIOR
NATIONAL TEAM TAKES SECOND IN A ROW WITH 10-6 VICTORY OVER RUSSIA AT FINA WORLD
LEAGUE SUPER FINAL
The USA Women's
Senior National Team made it two in a row to start at the FINA World League
Super Final in Spain as they defeated Russia 10-6 behind a well balanced scoring
effort that saw eight different players find the net. Team USA got off to a good
start and never looked back as they built a 3-0 lead after the first quarter and
were in front 4-1 at the half.
In the second half Russia began to mount
more of a rally as they tallied three scores in the third quarter but that was
answered by four from Team USA and as played moved in the fourth quarter it was
8-4 with USA in the lead. The fourth quarter saw each team score twice to end
the game at 10-6 in favor of Team USA. Brittany Hayes and Elsie Windes led the
scoring with two goals apiece while Betsey Armstrong turned aside 12 shots in
net.
"We played a solid game and we seem to be gaining some form.
Tomorrow we play China which is our opening game opponent at the Olympic Games,
it will be another good test," said USA Head Coach Guy Baker. Next up for the
team will be a game against China on Thursday at 9:30am PST.
Scoring:
USA: 10 (3, 1, 4, 2) E. Windes 2, B. Hayes 2, H. Petri 1, B. Villa 1, L.
Wenger 1, N. Golda 1, P. Cardenas 1, K. Craig 1
RUS: 6 (0, 1, 3, 2) N.
Shepelina 2, N. Vylegzhanina 2, Y. Gaufler 1, O. Turova 1
6x5 -- USA -
2-5 -- RUS - 3-7
Saves: USA - B. Armstrong 12
WOMEN'S SENIOR
NATIONAL TEAM EDGES AUSTRALIA 10-9 IN OPENING GAME OF FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER
FINAL
The USA Women's
Senior National Team opened the 2008 FINA World League Super Final with a bang
as they defeated Australia 10-9. It was a close game throughout as the score was
tied after the first and second quarters and Australia led by a goal after
three. In the first quarter Natalie Golda found the net followed by Heather
Petri on a counter attack. In the meantime Australia has scored three of their
own but then with just fifteen seconds left in the period Jessica Steffens
scored to tie the game.
In the second stanza the Aussies put up three
more scores but so did the Americans as Petri hit again joined by Lauren Wenger
and Elsie Windes. In addition goalie Betsey Armstrong stopped a penalty shot to
keep things close. The third quarter saw Australia build a one goal lead at 8-7
as the only USA score came from Petri, her third of the day.
Team USA
battled back in the fourth with scores from Natalie Golda, Brenda Villa, and
Patty Cardenas to take the lead at 10-9. Betsey Armstrong was huge in net coming
up with two crucial man-down saves in the final two minutes. "We are off to a
good start. However, today was just the first game and we will have five more
games to go. We play Russia tomorrow which will be another very difficult game,"
said USA Head Coach Guy Baker after the win. USA meets Russia at 8:00am PST on
Wednesday.
Scoring:
USA: 10 (3, 3, 1, 3) H. Petri 3, N. Golda 2,
L. Wenger 1, B. Villa 1, P. Cardenas 1, J. Steffens 1, E. Windes 1
AUS: 9 (3,
3, 2, 3)
6x5 -- USA 3-8 -- AUS 3-6 -- Penalty - AUS 0-1
Saves: B.
Armstrong - 11