USA Women Defeat Hungary 10-5; Advance To Semifinals Of FINA World Cup
8/20/2010 12:00:00 AM
Christchurch, New Zealand – August 20 – The USA Women’s National Team will be assured of playing for a medal at the 2010 FINA World Cup after defeating Hungary 10-5 in the quarterfinal round. Another balanced scoring attack paced the USA offense as Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara), Anne Belden (Newport Beach, CA/Bruin), Lolo Silver (Long Beach, CA/NYAC), and Elsie Windes (Portland, OR/Tulatin Hills) all scored two goals apiece. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/NYAC) was a force in the cage locking down 11 shots in the win.
Team USA took the lead in the opening two minutes on a score from Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Diablo) and then Windes popped in a lob shot in the final two minutes and that was all the scoring in the first quarter. The United States led 2-0 going to the second period but it was in this period that the Hungarian offense would find some traction. Hungary drew to within a goal at 2-1 at the 6:17 mark. Armstrong kept it from becoming closer with a three save sequence at the 4:45 mark in the quarter. Hungary would eventually tie the game breaking through with a tally with 3:14 remaining in the period to tie the match at 2-2.
The lead was short lived as less than thirty seconds later on a power play Craig surfaced like a submarine coming topside for a quick catch and shoot in front of the cage for a 3-2 lead. That was the score coming out of the gates in the third quarter when Windes struck for her second goal of the match and a 4-2 advantage. Hungary would mount a rally with two straight scores to tie the game at 4-4.
That would be the last gasp on offense for Hungary as the USA defense buckled down and the offense went on a run. With less than two minutes to go in the period the United States racked up three goals started by a power play score from Belden to make it 5-4 after Craig had drawn consecutive kickouts. That was followed by Craig wheeling inside for a score and a 6-4 lead and then Juliet Moss (San Jose, CA/SJ Splash) hitting from six meters for a 7-4 lead to close out the period’s scoring.
In the fourth quarter it was more of the same as Belden lit the proverbial lamp with a shot from distance to open the quarter and make it an 8-4 game in favor of the United States. Hungary got one back less than a minute later on a power play but that was countered by a power play goal from Silver and the lead remained four at 9-5. Hungary had a chance to draw closer on a penalty shot but their attempt went high off the cross bar and out of play at the 3:03 mark. Silver put the match to bed with a shot from outside for a 10-5 lead with 2:38 to go and Team USA was into the semifinals.
The United States went 4/11 on power plays while Hungary was 2/6 on power plays and 0/1 on penalty shots. Next up for the United States is a match Saturday evening with China at 7:30pm local time/12:30am pacific time on August 21.
Quarters: 0-2, 2-1, 2-4, 1-3
Referees: Michael HART (AUS), Alexei KRAPIVIN (RUS) Extra Man: HUN 2/6 plus 0/1 on penalty; USA 4/11
Saves – USA – B. Armstrong 11
TEAMS:
HUNGARY: Orsolya KASO, Hanna KISTELEKI, Rita POSZKOLI, Dora ANTAL, Gabriella SZUCS (1), Orsolya TAKACS (1), Rita DRAVUCZ (C), Rita KESZTHELYI (1), Ildiko TOTH, Barbara BUJKA, Agnes VALKAI (1), Kiata MENCZINGER (1), Aniko GYONGYOSSY. Head Coach: Matyas PETROVICS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG (C), Anne BELDEN (2), Brenda VILLA, Margaret STEFFENS (1), Juliet MOSS (1), Courtney MATHEWSON, Lauren SILVER (2), Elsie WINDES (2), Kelly RULON, Annika DRIES, Kameryn CRAIG (2), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Emily FEHER. Head Coach: Adam KRIKORIAN.
FLASH QUOTES:
Adam KRIKORIAN (USA) ‹ Head Coach
“That’s probably our best defensive effort of the summer, I’m really proud of the team, I think we have been very good defensively since we¹ve gotten here and it’s going to be important for us to continue that to keep the momentum going in our favour.”
‘We traded goals with them early and I would have just loved to have hung onto that lead, we had a couple of defensive breakdowns in the second quarter that led to their goals but Betsey also came up with some big saves in the second quarter that kept us with the one goal lead. I thought that things could have easily swung in their favour but those saves certainly kept the momentum on our side.”
“I think anyone of our players I have a lot of confidence in, anyone of our players can beat you on any given day. It helps that the centres draw a lot of attention and Kami and Annika did a great job today drawing a lot of attention so it’s going to free up our shooters on the outside and they have to be confident when they get their opportunity. We missed some opportunities early on where we could have broken the lead a little bit further but we stayed very discipline and very persistent and that¹s probably one of the things I’m most proud of.”
Matyas PETROVICS (HUN) ‹ Head Coach “The first two periods were amazing. I’m very proud of the team. They played over their heads. I was a little bit worried in the second period as we left two extra-man chances open for the USA. In the third period the Americans were stronger and he changed his players but I could only change two. The team was tired.”
Women's National Team