USA Women Down Russia 13-12 In Australia
8/8/2010 12:00:00 AM
Sydney, Australia - August 9 - The USA Women's Senior National Team made it back to back victories with a 13-12 victory over Russia at the Six Nation Tournament in Sydney. Behind four goals from Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) Team USA came away victorious with a match against Australia looming in the evening.
Recap courtesy of Australianwaterpolo.com.au
Quarters: 4-4, 3-4, 4-3, 2-1
Referees: Stephane ROY (CAN), Nikolaos VASILEIOU (GRE)
Extra Man: USA: 1/6 and 3 from 4 on penalty; RUS: 5/9
Teams:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Emily FEHER, Anne BELDEN, Kiley NEUSHUL (1), Brenda VILLA (C), Margaret STEFFENS, Juliet MOSS (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Lauren SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON (1), Annika DRIES (2), Kameryn CRAIG (4), Melissa SEIDEMANN (1). Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
RUSSIA: Evgeniya PROTSENKO, Nadezda GLYZINA, Ekaterina PROKOFYEVA (1), Sofya KONUKH (C, 6), Evgeniya PUSTYINNIKOVA (3), Natalia RYZHOVA-ALENICHEVA, Ekaterina TANKEEVA, Evgenia SOBOLEVA, Anna TIMOFEEVA, Olga BELYAEVA (1), Evgeniya IVANOVA, Yulia GAUFLER (1), Maria KOVTUNOVSKAYA. Head Coach: Alexandr KABANOV.
MATCH REPORT:
By Marcus Megalokonomos, Infostrada Sports
Team USA tested Russia in a one-point thriller in the Auspole-Longmont 10th Anniversary six-nation women's water polo tournament at Sydney Aquatic Centre today, beating the European champion 13-12.
The USA scored three penalty goals out of four, but only managed to convert one chance out of six when it had the extra-player advantage. Russia, however, found the back of the net on five out of nine occasions when it had an extra player. But the USA's centre forwards were too strong, with Kameryn Craig bagging four goals.
USA captain Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce), who has been a key player for the team since the dramatic gold-medal match at the 2000 Olympics, said that next week's World Cup opener against Russia will be even more of a spectacle compared to this morning's match. “Today we tried some different things with a different style, with the aim of experimenting and winning. But next week’s opener will be a thriller,” she said.
In the opening quarter the scores were tied at 4-4, followed by a similarly close second quarter, which ended 8-7 in Russia's favour. The third quarter was also tightly fought, before star forward Craig netted the winner in the fourth with just over two minutes to play. After her team's loss, Russian captain Sofya Konukh, who went to college in the USA, said there is always room for improvement in her team's play. “Studying in America for a few years and seeing their style of water polo really complemented me as a player, so it’s exciting to play them and know a bit about their style," she said.
Russian coach Alexandr Kabanov was disappointed his team didn't manage a victory — notably the amount of ejections in the match. “It was a game of ups and downs but it was very close,” he said. USA coach Adam Krikorian was relieved with the win, but not overly thrilled. “Last night’s match against Canada was another one-point game, so both games we have won but not comfortably.” He said that next week’s World Cup will be a tough one, with the USA drawn against both the European champion Russia and current FINA World Cup champion Australia. “Our group has both these teams, which makes it a very tough group to qualify to the finals.”
FLASH QUOTES:
Brenda VILLA (USA) — Captain
On Russia's performance:
"We should have stopped Sofya [Konukh]. She scored six goals. These games against Russia always have high scores, but we worked well defensively."
On USA's performance in the tournament serving as preparation for the FINA World Cup in New Zealand next week, where both Russia and USA are in group B:
"It will be different [in New Zealand], because here they were trying different things. It will be a whole different game in New Zealand."
Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) — Head Coach
On USA's performance:
"It was similar to yesterday [USA beat Canada 10-9]. We were definitely not good in the first half, but we adjusted. Our centre Kameryn Craig [four goals] was great."
On the World Cup in New Zealand next week, where both Russia and USA are in group B:
"It will be more difficult than the (recent FINA Worls League) Super Finals. [Group B] will be a tough group with Australia and Russia."
Alexandr KABANOV (RUS) — Head Coach
On the key moments in the match:
“The game was a very slow-motion game. There were no key moments.”
On where Russia went wrong tactically:
“The team played great. What went wrong is that we lost.”
On what Russia hopes to do differently in the next game:
“We will play tactically the same way, but we will win next time.”
Sofya KONUKH (RUS) — Captain
On Russia's performance in the match:
“We were disappointed with the loss but it was a good introduction to our opening rematch in [next week's] World Cup.”
Women's National Team