China Edges USA Women 11-9 In Shootout
6/11/2011 12:00:00 AM
Tianjin, China - June 11 - The USA Women's National fell to China 11-9 in a shootout, their third straight loss to the Chinese National Team in an exhibition series. The two teams were knotted at 6-6 after regulation before the Chinese made all five shots in the shootout to just three from Team USA to come away winners. Team USA is in China preparing for the FINA World League Super Final that starts on Tuesday in Tianjin.
In this match the the two teams played close throughout tied at 2-2 after the first quarter and just a goal apart at halftime with the Chinese leading 4-3. The teams each scored twice in the third quarter to keep China ahead 6-5 going to the fourth. In the final period the United States added a goal and kept China off the board to tie the match at 6-6 and force the extra session.
In the shootout all five China shooters delivered while the United States received scores from Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC), Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC), and Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC). Tumua Anae (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SoCal) and Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) split time in the cage combining for nine saves.
Both teams struggled on power plays with the United States going 0/4 and China 2/10.
Scoring
USA 6 (2, 1, 2, 1) C. Mathewson, H. Petri, A. Belden, M. Seidemann, K. Rulon, A. Dries
CHN 6 (2, 2, 2, 0)
Shootout - USA 3 - CHN 5
Saves - USA - B. Armstrong 5, T. Anae - 4
6x5 - USA - 0/4 - CHN 2/10
Women's National Team