USA Women Will Play For Gold At World University Games Following 9-8 Defeat Of Italy
8/20/2011 12:00:00 AM
**Photo Gallery** courtesy of Stanford Schwimer
Shenzhen, China - August 20 - The USA Women's World University Games Team will play China for the Gold Medal following a 9-8 defeat of Italy. Behind three goals from Leah Robertson, and 11 saves from Amber Oland the United States was able to take home the win and advance to the championship final. Team USA will meet China on Monday for the Gold Medal.
The match was even early on with the two squads tied at 2-2 after the first quarter. The United States got it going on offense in the second quarter outscoring Italy 2-0 to grab a 4-2 lead at halftime. The United States kept it up in the third quarter outscoring Italy 3-2 to lead 7-4 with playing moving to the fourth. In the final period Italy tried to rally with four goals in the period but the United States had the answer scoring twice to take home the win 9-8.
Other goal scorers for the United States included Pallavi Menon, Alyssa Lo, Julia Oreglia, Stephanie Schnugg, Caroline Clark, and Kimberly Benedetti. Team USA went just 1/7 on power plays while Italy was 3/10.
"We are very proud that we have made it to the gold medal game. It is another feather in the hat for the USA Water Polo Women's program. The difference was in the 3rd period, Leah broke out for a counter attack goal and a 6x5 goal. Then in the 4th quarter when things got close, Caroline Clark posted up and scored from 2 meters, and it showed that we had been playing a complete team game," said USA Head Coach Matt Anderson.
Scoring
USA 9 (2, 2, 3, 2) L. Robertson 3, P. Menon 1, A. Lo 1, J. Oreglia 1, S. Schnugg 1, C. Clark 1, K. Benedetti 1
ITA 8 (2, 0, 2, 4)
Saves - USA - A. Oland 11
6x5 - USA 1/7 - ITA 3/10
Women's National Team