USA Women Advance To Six Nations Title Bout With 12-10 Defeat Of Greece
8/11/2010 12:00:00 AM
Sydney, Australia – August 11 – The USA Women’s Senior National Team got back on the winning track with a 12-10 defeat of Greece at the Six Nations Tourney in Sydney. The win pushes the United States to play in the title match on Thursday against either Australia or Russia. Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce), Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin) and Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Diablo) all scored two goals in the victory while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) held it down in the cage with seven saves.
Greece struck first in this match drawing a penalty and converting in the opening minute. That was immediately answered by Juliet Moss (San Jose, CA/SJ Splash) who found the net and tied the match at 1-1. After Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) drew an exclusion, Belden delivered the goal for a 2-1 advantage. Greece would score as time expired in the period to tie the match once more at 2-2.
The second quarter started off similar to the match with Greece scoring to take a 3-2 lead and again it was the United States answering seconds later with Villa connecting on a power play try for a 3-3 match. Less than minute later another power play followed and Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/NYAC) lit the proverbial lamp with a score for a 4-3 match. Team USA kept building as Villa delivered on the catch and shoot for a two goal advantage at 5-3. Greece drew within one but Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/SET) powered home a shot out of two meters for a 6-4 match. The teams then traded goals to close out the period with Greece sandwiching two goals around a Steffens tally to see the United States holding a one goal lead at 7-6 going into halftime.
Team USA came out hot to start the third quarter with Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Tulatin Hills WP) hitting on a lob shot and then Belden scoring again for a 9-6 match. Greece rattled off two straight scores to close within 9-8 before Craig came calling for the red, white, and blue hitting on a fadeaway from the center spot for a 10-8 match. With a minute left in the period Greece scored on a deflected shot that beat Armstrong but Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC) returned the favor with a skipping shot to make it 11-9 in favor of the United States.
All the scoring died down as the game moved to the fourth. Greece scored early in the period to draw within 11-10 but both teams defenses buckled down from there. It wasn’t until the 4:31 mark that Steffens scored from out in front on a solid dish from Belden to build the lead back up to two at 12-10. That proved to be enough of a difference as the United States came away winners 12-10.
The United States went 4/8 on power plays while Greece was 2/4 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots.
Quarters: 2-2, 5-4, 4-3, 1-1
Referees: Nick HODGERS (AUS), Stephane ROY (CAN)
Extra Man: USA: 4/8. GRE 2/4 plus 1/1 on penalty
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Emily FEHER, Anne BELDEN (2), Kiley NEUSHUL, Brenda VILLA (C, 2), Margaret STEFFENS (2), Juliet MOSS (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), Lauren SILVER (1), Elsie WINDES (1), Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES (1), Kameryn CRAIG (1), Melissa SEIDEMANN. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
GREECE: Maria TSOURI, Christina TSOUKALA (1), Konstantina KOUTELI (1), Ilektra PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI (C, 2), Alkisti AVRAMIDOU (1), Alexandra ASIMAKI, Antigoni ROUMPESI (1), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (3), Triantafylia MANOLIOUDAKI, Stavroula ANTONAKOU (1), ANTONIA SOLANAKI, Eleni KOUVDOU. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.
Women's National Team