Courtesy: USA Water Polo
KUNSHAN, China – The USA Women’s National Team took the Group B title at the 2018 FINA World League Super Final with a 10-7 win over Russia. Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/NYAC) and Kiley Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/NYAC) scored two goals each in the victory as the United States finished group play at 3-0. Team USA will now take on Australia on Thursday in quarterfinal action. The game is scheduled to be played at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT but is subject to change. The match will stream live on FINA TV (subscription required) and can be accessed by clicking here. For more information on day three of the FINA World League Super Final, click here.
Russia started the match strong taking a 2-1 lead in the first, before Team USA was able to draw level at the end of the opening period. In the second, Team USA surged ahead, outscoring Russia 2-0 to build a 4-2 advantage at halftime. Russia battled back to within a goal at 6-5 in the third before the United States rebuilt their lead to 9-6 in the fourth. Russia cut the deficit to 9-7, with 4:08 to play, but Paige Hauschild (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara 805) connected on a power play strike for a 10-7 lead. That would end the scoring as the United States held on for a three goal victory.
Team USA was dominant on the advantage going 6/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties. Russia was 3/9 on power plays and did not attempt a penalty.
“Russia played tough and they do many different things well,” said USA Head Coach Adam Krikorian. “They have one of the best players in the world in Ekaterina (Prokofyeva) and a bunch of players that are physical. Russia has an unorthodox style, like Japan, and it takes time adjusting. We handled it well, but we were not that sharp. It’s important to learn from each game we play.”
Scoring
USA 10 (2, 2, 4, 2) M. Seidemann 2, K. Neushul 2, B. Games 1, P. Hauschild 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Neushul 1, S. Haralabidis 1, A. Fischer 1
RUS 7 (2, 0, 3, 2) E. Ivanova 2, D. Rhyzkova 2, A. Simanovich 1, E. Prokofyeva 1, A. Serzhantova 1
6×5 – USA – 6/8 – RUS – 3/9
Penalties – USA – 2/2 – RUS – 0/0