For the second straight year the USA Women’s National Team will meet Australia for gold at the FINA Women’s Intercontinental Tournament. Team USA dispatched Canada 11-9 in the semifinal round to advance to the gold medal final on Sunday. Courtney Mathewson (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC) and Makenzie Fischer(Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) scored three goals each in the win while Carlee Kapana (Newport Beach, CA/Newport Harbor HS/Newport) earned the victory in net with eight saves. By finishing in the medal round of this event, Team USA has already qualified for the FINA World League Super Final coming up later this year. Tomorrow’s match with Australia is set for 7:30pm local New Zealand time/12:30am pacific time.
The semifinal match was close early with Team USA holding a 4-3 lead after the first period. Defense was big for the United States over the next two periods as they held Canada to just one goal while building an 8-4 advantage after three quarters. In the fourth Canada rallied scoring five goals but Team USA answered with three of their own, enough to pick up the win at 11-9.
The United States went 4/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalty shots while Canada was 3/8 on power plays and 2/3 on penalty shots. “Our defense in the second and third quarters was the difference but I was disappointed in how we played in the fourth,” said USA Head Coach Adam Krikorian. Team USA and Australia met for gold in this same event in 2014 in Riverside, CA with Australia winning 7-5.
Scoring
USA 11 (4, 3, 1, 3) C. Mathewson 3, M. Fischer 3, M. Musselman 2, K. Clark 1, K. Gilchrist 1, M. Seidemann 1
CAN 9 (3, 1, 0, 5)
Saves – USA – C. Kapana 8
6×5 – USA – 4/8 – CAN – 3/8
Penalties – USA – 1/1 – CAN – 2/3
Water Polo News is courtesy of USA Water Polo.