USA Women’s Water Polo Opens FINA Intercontinental Tourney 2-0

The USA Women’s National Team picked up their second straight win at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament defeating China 10-5. Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET), Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/NYAC), Ali Thomason (San Rafael, CA/Michigan/Marin WPC), and Abbi Hill (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos HS/Santa Barbara 805) all scored two goals to pace the offense. Georgia Phillips (Fresno, CA/Clovis West HS/Rose Bowl WPC) made her first career start in goal for the senior team recording five saves. Team USA returns to play on Thursday evening against Japan at 7:10pm pt. Follow @USAWP on Twitter for live updates. For more information on this event, click here. Live streaming will be available of all games starting on Friday at Facebook.com/USAWP.

Team USA jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first quarter and went ahead 6-1 going into halftime on a goal from Lexi Liebowitz (Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS/680 Water Polo). The United States continued to build on their advantage taking an 8-2 lead into the third quarter. Deng Zewen scored a game high four goals for China and added another in the fourth to try and keep her team close. Despite the scoring the United States held off any potential rally to take a 10-5 win.

Team USA went 0/4 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots while China was 1/6 on power plays and 2/2 on penalty shots.

Scoring
USA 10 (3, 3, 2, 2) A. Fischer 2, M. Seidemann 2, A. Thomason 2, A. Hill 2, L. Liebowitz 1, J. Roemer 1
CHN 5 (0, 1, 1, 3) D. Zewen 4, N. Sangpeng 1

Davis, CA – May 2 – On a roster full of youth the USA Women’s National Team turned to their two most experienced players to lead the charge over Kazakhstan on day of the FINA Intercontinental Tournament at UC-Davis. 2016 Olympic gold medalist Aria Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) and Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/NYAC) scored four goals each in a 12-7 win over Kazakhstan. Thea Walsh (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) tallied seven saves in the win. Team USA returns to action on Wednesday evening in Davis against China at 7:10pm pt. Tickets are available at the door. For more information including live stats, click here. Live streaming will be available startingFriday at Facebook.com/USAWP.

Team USA jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter and led 6-3 at the half after two goals in the second from Fischer. In the third the United States led 8-5 going to the fourth holding off a Kazakhstan rally. In the final period Team USA put the match away outscoring their opponents 4-2.

The United States went 5/7 on power plays and 3/3 on penalty shots while Kazakhstan was 6/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots.

In other day one action Australia defeated China 13-6 while Japan was a winner over Canada 13-8.

Scoring
USA 12 (3, 3, 2, 4) A. Fischer 4, M. Seidemann 4, A. Thomason 1, P. Hauschild 1, J. Roemer 1, A. Hill 1
KAZ 7 (1, 2, 2, 2) Mizshina 4, Zakizova 3,
Saves – USA – T. Walsh 7 – KAZ – Zharkimbayeva 5
6×5 – USA – 5/7 – KAZ – 6/8
Penalties – USA – 3/3 – KAZ – 1/1