USA Women Take Second Place At Six Nations Tournament Following 10-8 Loss To Australia
8/12/2010 12:00:00 AM
Sydney, Australia – August 12 – The USA Women’s Senior National Team fell to Australia 10-8 in final of the Six Nations Tournament held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center. The bout was a rematch of the famed Gold Medal match from 10 years ago in the first Olympics for water polo. Despite the loss, Team USA’s Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara) was named tourney MVP and joined on all the all-tournament squad with Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Commerce), Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin), and Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC). Now the United States readies for the FINA World Cup starting on August 17 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
As for this match it was a typical close battle between the two storied opponents with the score see-sawing back and forth. The United States got things cooking early when Villa hit on a power play score for a 1-0 lead, that was answered about a minute later on an Australia goal from inside for a tie match at 1-1. The red, white, and blue got one back when Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Diablo) ripped the net for a 2-1 lead. This was countered by an Australia goal minutes later but the United States had the last word in the period when Belden connected on a counter attack for a 3-2 lead going to the second.
In the second period Australia scored on a penalty shot to tie the match at 3-3 and then hit on a power play goal moments later for a 4-3 lead, their first of the match. At the 2:35 mark in the period the ball came back to the Villa and the three-time Olympian answered with a lob shot for a tie match at 4-4. Kelly Rulon (Point Loma, CA/NYAC) followed with an outside shot for a 5-4 lead and then Silver hit from deep for a 6-4 lead at halftime.
The third quarter started strong in favor of Australia as they scored back to back scores to tie the match at 6-6. Following an Aussie exclusion Silver scored on a stellar give from Belden for a 7-6 lead. The back and forth continued when the Aussies put home a power play goal to tie the game at 7-7. Craig worked inside to draw a penalty which was converted by Silver and the United States were back in front 8-7, however that would be their last goal of the match. The green and gold found the cage with just eight seconds left in the period and tied the game at 8-8 going into the fourth.
Going to the fourth all knotted up the defenses of both sides became a key focus. Neither team could muster a goal until 3:13 left in the period when Australia finally broke through with a shot off the post and in for a 9-8 lead. The breaks continued in favor of Australia when they got a deflected shot to fall in for a 10-8 lead. Final chances for the United States proved for naught and Australia came away winners of the championship at 10-8.
Silver led the USA attack as the Australian league standout scored three goals. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) was a force in the cage impounding 15 shots for the match. Team USA went 2-7 on power plays while Australia was 2-9, both teams went 1-1 on penalty shots.
Quarters: 3-2, 3-2, 2-4, 0-2
Referees: Alexei KRAPIVIN (RUS), Nikolaos VAILEIOU (GRE)
Extra Man: USA 1/8 plus 1/1 on penalty; AUS 2/9 plus 1/1 on penalty
TEAMS:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Emily FEHER, Anne BELDEN (1), Kiley NEUSHUL, Brenda VILLA (C, 2), Margaret STEFFENS (1), Juliet MOSS, Courtney MATHEWSON, Lauren SILVER (3), Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON (1), Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG, Melissa SEIDEMANN. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
AUSTRALIA: Victoria BROWN, Holly LINCOLN-SMITH, Sophie SMITH, Alicia BRIGHTWELL (1), Jane MORAN (1), Bronwen KNOX (C 2), Rowena WEBSTER (1), Isobel BISHOP, Zoe ARANCINI (1), Jemma DESSAUVAGIE, Melissa RIPPON (1), Nicola ZAGAME (3), Ashleigh SOUTHERN, Lea BARTA. Head Coach: Greg McFADDEN.
FLASH QUOTES:
Greg McFADDEN (AUS) — Head Coach
On breaking down a physical USA defence:
"We just had to keep our movement going; we're a very mobile team with a lot of big mobile players. It was important to not get bogged down, play our own style, and not play to their game."
On what he said to his team at the end of the third quarter, with the scores tied at 8-8:
"I told them to keep working the extra man attack and offer something different into the game."
On what won the game for Australia:
"Our movement was fantastic, but this game is all about ticker. You need to have ticker to win games like this and I think we had plenty of that."
On preparations for the World Cup:
"We're happy I guess, but you have to realise that at an event like this none of the sides are showing their best form. We know we will be up to the challenge for the World Cup."
Nicola ZAGAME (AUS) — Star Shooter (3 goals)
On how she feels about the game:
"Although we were down at half time, it was good to come back and win the game, especially in front of the home crowd."
On what was said at half time being 6-4 down:
"The coach told us to stay focused and we will catch up with them. He also wanted us to keep the confidence."
On the added motivation they had:
"This is the exact pool where the gold medal was won in 2000. We wanted to repeat the same performance that was displayed by that team."
Victoria BROWN (AUS) — Goalkeeper (three crucial saves in last minutes of game)
On her three saves at the end of the game:
"Last quarter is always the most exciting. I was just thinking 'get that ball out of my goal!'"
On playing against USA in Group B at the World Cup next week in New Zealand:
"It's a fantastic group to play in."
Brenda VILLA (USA) — Captain
On the overall performance
"It's always a competitive match against the Aussies especially with all the history but we fell short tonight"
"It was tight but we wore ourselves out in the end with quick offensive play after they lost possession"
Lauren SILVER (USA) — Scorer
On the speculations for the World Cup against AUS
"It's always fun playing for first place and we had an idea of what we were up against with Australia but they are tough to beat"
"We will work more on our communicating and team defence with the aim of number one spot next week."
Women's National Team