Late Goal By Italy Leads To 9-9 Draw For U.S. Olympic Team For Women's Water Polo
8/13/2008 12:00:00 AM
Beijing, China - August 13 - The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo found themselves in a hole early on,
in the lead late, and tied 9-9 when all was said and done in their match
against Italy at the Ying Tung Natatorium. Elisa Casanova's
goal with 22 seconds remaining following an exclusion on the United States led
to a draw, the first for each team thus far in Olympic competition. Italy and the United States now both sit tied for
first place with three points each, with one game remaining in pool play. Thanks to China's defeat of Russia the United States is guaranteed at least a spot in the quarterfinals.
In this contest Italy
were the aggressors early on as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the end of the
first quarter. Team USA
was a little sluggish out of the gate committing a few turnovers, yet they were
able to right the ship in the second period. In the second quarter Brenda Villa
(Commerce, CA) found Patty Cardenas (Commerce, CA) for a score following an
Italian exclusion and USA
trailed 2-1. Italy
rebuilt a two goal lead immediately scoring off of a player advantage and it
was 3-1 with 3:41 to go in the period. The score would see-saw back and forth
as Brittany Hayes (Santa Ana, CA)
then answered for the United States
during a 6x5 advantage as she took a dish from Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA)
and it was down to 3-2. Italy
answered again to go up two at 4-2 but in the final
1:07 of the first half Team USA
would string together an impressive two goal run.
First Hayes put an entry pass in to Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA)
at the center spot, she quickly spun and buried a shot low in the nearside
corner of the cage. Then with just 17 seconds left in the period Hayes again
was with the ball but instead of the pass, she went lob shot on the far side of
the cage and beat the goalie to tie the game at 4-4. Coming out of the
intermission tied at 4-4 scoring was at a premium in the early minutes of the
third. Italy
finally broke through with 3:41
remaining to go up 5-4. Team USA
pulled a line change as five new players joined Villa and about a minute later
it was Villa scoring on a player advantage just as sides were coming even. Tied
again Team USA could sense
their first lead coming and it was from Jessica Steffens (Danville, CA)
who rattled one in bar down and into the cage. That lead would last exactly 19
seconds as Italy
scored again and it was 6-6 going into the fourth quarter.
The back and forth would continue into the fourth with Villa scoring at the
5:16 mark on a shot that just trickled in to the net but was signaled good by
the goal judge. That 7-6 advantage would not last long for Team USA when Italy took advantage of a power
play and tied the game up again this time at 7-7. Less than thirty seconds
later three-time Olympian Heather Petri (Orinda,
CA) buried a shot into the left corner from
six meters out and it was a USA
lead once more. Goalie Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor,
MI) 10 saves on the night, came through with a
big time save on the next possession for Italy
and that led to another score for the USA
when fellow Michigander Alison Gregorka (Ann
Arbor, MI) ripped the
net to give a two goal lead at 9-7.
Italy
would not go away and scored shortly after the Gregorka goal to climb within
one at 9-8. Each team's defense then
locked down for the next two minutes or so before a USA
exclusion led to a power play for Italy and the game-tying goal by
Casanova. Next up for Team USA
will be a match with Russia
at 2:20pm on Friday, August 15. Due to China's victory over Russia
tonight Russia
is unable to advance on to the quarterfinals.
Team USA
remains in contention for winning Group A.
Flash Quotes:
"I thought it was going to be a tight game, a one goal game or a tie and
it was exactly that. This game we had more balance in the number of players
scoring, we had seven players score nine goals. Overall I thought we played
well, after the first quarter we played well enough to win." Guy Baker, Head Coach - U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo
On getting ready for Russia
"We'll prepare for them exactly
the same way we prepare for every game. I'm
sure they are going to come to play, while it is great for China to defeat them, it is sad for Russia that
they will not be able to move on. I'm
sure it will be a great game." Guy Baker,
Head Coach - U.S.
Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo
Scoring:
USA - 9 (0,4,2,3) B. Hayes 2, B. Villa 2, H. Petri 1, P. Cardenas 1, J.
Steffens 1, A. Gregorka 1, K. Craig 1
ITA - 9 (2,2,2,3) M. Miceli 2, T. di Mario 2, E. Casanova 1, S. Bosurgi 1, E.
Valkai 1, M. Zanchi 1, C. Ragusa
Saves - USA
- B. Armstrong 10 - ITA - E. Gigli 10
6x5 - USA
- 3/4 - ITA 5/6
Women's National Team