Greece Edges USA Women 11-10 In Shootout At FINA World League Super Final
6/16/2011 12:00:00 AM
Tianjin, China - June 16 - The USA Women's National Team suffered their first loss at the FINA World League Super Final falling in a sudden death shootout to Greece 11-10. USA was spurred by two goals from Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara) and 10 saves from Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) which included two shootout stops. Despite the loss Team USA still finishes atop Group A with a record of 2-1 and will advance to take on Canada in a crossover match tomorrow.
It was a match that saw a series of runs with the United States getting off to the great start in the first quarter posting a 4-0 lead. Goals from Craig, Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Commerce), Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC), and Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) powered the lead after the first quarter. In the second Greece completely turned the tables blanking the United States 4-0 on their own string of goals to even the match 4-4 at halftime.
The third quarter saw the United States go back on the offensive outscoring Greece 3-1 to take a 7-5 lead going to the fourth quarter. Craig added another goal along with Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) and Kelly Rulon (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC). Once again Greece rallied picking up goals late in the fourth period to again even the match, this time at 7-7. The United States had a shot for win after calling timeout with :17 remaining in the game. A shot from Villa did not find the cage and the game headed to a shootout.
Into the shootout and both shooters were successful on the first try including Rulon for Team USA. On the second shot both shooters were stopped by the respective keepers including a save for Armstrong. The third round saw both shooters connect including Petri for the United States. On the fourth round both shooters missed including another stop by Armstrong. The fifth round had both shooters score including Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) for the United States leaving the game still deadlocked at 10-10 to force sudden death. On the very next round Greece scored and Rulon was stopped giving the Greeks an 11-10 lead and the instant victory.
"We played much too relaxed when leading in both the 2nd and 4th quarters. I hope we can learn from this. We will have to play more consistent throughout the rest of the tournament and in each game in order to advance," said Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach.
Team USA went 3/8 on power plays while Greece was 3/7. Greece was also 2/2 on penalty shots. In other matches Russia defeated Australia 12-9, Spain edged Canada 10-9, and China topped Italy 15-10.
Quarters: 4-0, 0-4, 1-3, 2-0. (3-3) (0-1) USA 10 - Greece 11
Referees: Irfan SADEKOV (RUS), Santiago RODRIGUEZ (ESP)
Extra Man: GRE: 3/7. USA: 3/8
Pens: GRE: 2/2. USA: 0/0
Teams:
GREECE: Eleni KOUVDOU, Christina TSOUKALA (1), Antiopi MELIDONI, Ilektra Maria PSOUNI, Kyriaki LIOSI, Alkisti AVRAMIDOU (1), Alexandra ASIMAKI (1), Antigoni ROUMPESI (4), Angeliki GEROLYMOU (2), Triantafyllia MANOLIOUDAKI, Stavroula ANTONAKOU (2), Georgia LARA, Eleni GOULA. Head Coach: Georgios MORFESIS.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Elizabeth ARMSTRONG, Heather PETRI (2), Melissa SEIDEMANN, Brenda VILLA (1), Lauren WENGER (1), Courtney MATHEWSON (1), JESSICA STEFFENS, LAUREN SILVER, Elsie WINDES, Kelly RULON (2), Annika DRIES (1), Kameryn CRAIG (2), Margaret STEFFENS. HEAD COACH: Adam KRIKORIAN.
Women's National Team