USA Women Will Play For Gold At 2011 Pan American Games Following 13-1 Defeat Of Brazil
10/26/2011 12:00:00 AM
Guadalajara, Mexico - October 26 - The USA Water Polo Women's National Team will play for Gold at the Pan American Games after defeating Brazil 13-1 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center. A sluggish start in the first half gave way to an offensive outburst in the second, including six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter. Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, Calif./UCLA/NYAC) led all scorers with five goals while Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, Mich./Michigan/NYAC) went the distance in net turning aside four shots. Team USA will meet Canada in the final on Friday at 5pm cst. Canada and the United States last met in a major championship final when the United States defeated Canada for the Gold Medal at the 2009 FINA World Championships. The Canadians defeated Cuba 15-9 in the semi-finals.
Team USA got off a to a strong start when Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, Calif./USC/Santa Barbara WPF) drew a five meter penalty 21 seconds into the match but the shot was missed by Kelly Rulon (San Diego, Calif./UCLA/NYAC). The United States eventually cracked the scoring column with a Mathewson score and closed the first period up 3-1. In the second Team USA again failed to convert a five meter penalty and Brenda Villa (Commerce, Calif./Stanford/Olympic Club) cashed in the lone goal of the period for a 4-0 lead at intermission. The second half was a different story as the United States started to get on a roll posting three goals in the third period and then blowing things open in the fourth. After Brazil scored their lone goal of the game at the 5:30 mark of the fourth the United States proceeded to rip off six straight tallies, including two by Mathewson to seal the match.
Villa and Wenger contributed two goals apiece while Maggie Steffens (Danville, Calif./Stanford/Diablo), Heather Petri (Orinda, Calif./California/NYAC), Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, Calif./Stanford/SET), and Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, Calif./Stanford/Stanford) all scored once. The United States went 3/6 on power plays and 0/2 on penalties while Brazil was 0/4 on power plays and did not draw a penalty.
Scoring - Scoresheet
USA 13 (3, 1, 3, 6) C. Mathewson 5, B. Villa 2, L. Wenger 2, H. Petri 1, A. Dries 1, M. Seidemann 1, M. Steffens 1
BRA 1 (0, 0, 1, 0)
Saves - USA - B. Armstrong 4
6x5 - USA 3/6 - BRA 0/4
Penalties - USA 0/2 - BRA 0/0
Flash Quotes
"I think we are really trying to focus on defense because it all starts from there, getting stops. We build our confidence from that then get out on the counter attack, work our offense. We feel like we gotta make stops and the offense will come." Elsie Windes, USA Defender
"We are so excited, this is what we've been training for, we'll have tomorrow to get our game plan ready and go to work on Friday." Elsie Windes, USA Defender
"For us I think there is no better game to have then that one where we struggle a little bit offensively. The main thing for us is as long we are playing defense in sync with that focus and energy I always like our chances." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
"It'll be pretty easy to change gears because we've spent a lot of time thinking about this opportunity of playing Canada in the final. I think for everyone it's been difficult to keep them focused on the rest leading up to it. It'll be a piece of cake to get focused and change gears to prepare for Canada." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
"Yeah, we'll be excited, there's no question, we've been waiting for this for a long time, we know that they're capable of beating anyone in the world, we are as well, I'll be surprised if it isn't a one goal game." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
Women's National Team