8/21/2008 12:00:00 AM

8/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

8/19/2008 12:00:00 AM

8/15/2008 12:00:00 AM

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

preparing to leave for Greece to play in Pro League

U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo Outlasts China 12-11 To Kickoff Olympic Play

8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM

Beijing, China - August 11, 2008 - The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo were given all they could handle in their opening game against China as they battled back for a 12-11 win in their first game of Group A play at the Ying Tung Natatorium. Natalie Golda (Fullerton, CA) led the team on offense with four goals while Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA) tossed in three.



It was a back and forth contest throughout with no team able to gain much distance from the other. Golda opened the scoring at around the 5 minute mark as she cruised down the middle of the pool to about five meters before blasting one past the Chinese goal keeper. China answered right back with a goal on the next possession and then added another and they had taken a 2-1 lead. With a minute to go in the period Craig created position inside and was able to deliver tying the score at 2-2. The scoring wasn't done there as China quickly scored to go up 3-2 only to have Golda hit again following a Moriah van Norman (San Diego, CA) drawn exclusion.



It was knotted at 3-3 headed to the second when China opened up a 5-3 lead at the 6:36 mark in the period. This was short-lived as a minute later Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA) skipped one in, then Golda connected again, and Brittany Hayes (Santa Ana, CA) lit the proverbial lamp and Team USA was back in front at 6-5. At this point China pulled their starting goalkeeper Jun Yang in favor of backup Ying Tan. That spurred the Chinese on to tie the game at 6-6 with 2:19 remaining but within thirty seconds Golda has scored again and it was 7-6 in favor of the United States. China added another score to tie the game, and were seemingly go to retake the lead when Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI) came through with a clutch save at the :28 second mark. Hayes added a score on a dish from Villa with :14 tickets left and the USA were in front 8-7 at halftime.



The scoring rolled along into the third as USA took advantage of a double exclusion called against China with van Norman using multiple pump fakes before burying a shot right on the doorstep. Armstrong came up huge again denying a penalty shot on a five meter call about a minute later, but the Chinese would not waver scoring at the 2:27 mark to come within a tally at 9-8. Craig found the cage again with a little over a minute remaining and the lead was two, but China answered on a penalty shot with half a minute remaining and it was just a 10-9 game headed to the fourth.



In the final stanza China came out firing scoring back to back goals to grab the lead at 11-10 with 5:46 remaining. Not about to lay down at this point Golda passed off to Craig who put it home for her third goal and a tie game at 11-11. The difference maker came with 3:32 remaining when Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA) worked in on the near side, received a pass from Villa and fired it past the keeper for the lead at 12-11. Both teams would trade possessions with China having the last chance with eight seconds left. They never mustered a shot before time expired and the United States came away with the victory.



The team was solid on the player advantage going 4/6 while China went 4/9 and converted 1/2 on penalty shots.In addition an Olympics record was set for most combined goals (23) in a women’s water polo match that did not use extra time. Next up for Team USA will be a match with defending Gold Medalist Italy on Wednesday, August 13 at 3:40pm local Beijing time (12:40am PST).



Flash Quotes:



"It was an entertaining game, there were alot of good goals scored. We had been saying China is improving and I had felt that out of all three this was going to be the most competitive Olympics for women's water polo. The crowd was awesome, we anticipated China to be strong and it was a good first game to get us off on our start at the Olympics." -- Guy Baker, Head Coach - U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo



On 10 first time Olympians playing their first game "I didn't get a sense of jitters or anything like that, it just felt like a first game in a major tournament, we knew there would be a great crowd and China would come out hard." -- Guy Baker, Head Coach - U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo



On their next opponent Italy "Italy presents some different challenges for us. We'll get to work on them tomorrow, our goal in any major tournament is to get better by the time the tournament ends and to keep improving, so we hope to do that." Guy Baker, Head Coach - U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo



Scoring:



USA: 12 (3,5,2,2) N. Golda 4, K. Craig 3, B. Hayes 2, B. Villa 1, L. Wenger 1. M. van Norman 1

CHN: 11 (3,4,2,2) A. Gao 3, H. Sun 2, F. Teng 2, Y. Sun 2, P. Liu 1, H. Ma 1



Saves: USA - B. Armstrong 7 CHN - J. Yang 1



6x5 - USA - 4/6 CHN 4/9 (1/2 penalties)

Upcoming Schedule:



August 11-21 Team USA Olympic Competition

(Beijing, China)



Olympic Competition Schedule

(Subject to Change)

Beijing Time is 15 hours ahead of PST



Day 1 (8/11/08)



1:00p- HUN- NED

3:20p- RUS- ITA

3:40p- GRE- AUS

5:00p- USA- CHN (2:00am PST)



Day 2 (8/13/08)



1:00p HUN- AUS

2:20p RUS- CHN

3:40p USA - ITA (12:40am PST)

5:00p GRE- NED 





Day 3 (8/15/08)



1:00p NED- AUS

2:20p RUS- USA (11:20pm PST Aug 14) 

3:40p HUN- GRE

5:00p ITA- CHN 



QF Round (8/17/08)



1:00p 4 th A- 4 th B

(Winner 7 th , Loser 8 th)

2:20p 3 rd A- 2 nd B

3:40p 2 nd A- 3 rd B



SF Round (8/19/08)



1:00p Loser Game 14- Loser Game 15

(Winner 5 th , Loser 6 th )

2:20p 1 st A- Winner Game 14

3:40p 1 st B- Winner Game 15



Final Round (8/21/08)



5:00p Loser Game 17- Loser Game 18

(Winner 3 rd , Loser 4 th )

6:20p Winner Game 17- Winner Game 18 Winner 1 st , Loser 2 nd )

JULY 8, 2008



U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM FOR WOMEN'S WATER POLO NEVER TRAILS EN ROUTE TO CONVINCING 12-6 WIN OVER AUSTRALIA

The U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo shrugged off a last second loss to Australia on Sunday evening and came back with a vengeance taking it to their rival with a 12-6 defeat in front of sold out crowd at the Brian Bent pool on the campus of Coronado High School. The two squads meet up once more on Thursday at Stanford University in the last game for Team USA before they depart for the Olympic Games.



As for this contest it had a familiar start to the last game as San Diego native Moriah van Norman again came out to start the game with a goal to build a 1-0 lead for Team USA. Sarah Mills would answer for Australia tying the score at 1-1 and that would be as close as Australia got all evening. The United States was a determined group as they rattled off three straight goals following the Mills score as Lauren Wenger connected along Jessica Steffens. In addition Natalie Golda put home a five meter penalty drawn by Kami Craig and the USA was in control at 4-1 after the first.



The start of the second was more of the same as Patty Cardenas used a man-up scenario to her advantage finding the net to push the lead to 5-1. Australia countered with a goal less than 40 seconds later but Brittany Hayes buried a shot minutes later to build the lead back to four goals at 6-2. That was the score to start the third quarter when the Aussies drew within 6-3 after a Gemma Beadsworth score. That was short lived as goals by Elsie Windes and Craig followed and the lead was now five goals at 8-3.



Everytime Australia got a goal back the United States seemed to dish out two more. The Stingers got to within 8-4 only to see Brenda Villa take a sweet pass from Hayes and put the shot away and then Craig burrowed her way through two defenders to score and it was 10-4 going to the fourth.



The final stanza saw USA toss in two more scores with Windes hitting on her second tally of the day and Craig drawing another five meter which was cashed in by Heather Petri. Overall the team went 2/2 on penalty shots and was efficient on power plays at 6/11 a welcome improvement from a 3/9 showing on Sunday. Betsey Armstrong was superb in net stopping 13 shots on the evening, while several field players recorded blocks. The two squads meet again at 6pm on Thursday at the Avery Aquatics Center on the campus of Stanford University.



Quotes:



"It's been a long time since we've had a complete game like that. I'm surprised by the score, I don't think it's indicative of this series and how these two teams matchup. Tonight 6/11 on 6x5, Sunday we went 3/9, that is a big swing. We did a better job on 6x5 and 5x6 and I was happy with our center play. Kami and Moriah were noticeably better and that is good for their confidence." -- Guy Baker - USA Head Coach



"I think there were many positives tonight. We were able to practice things in our day off and then implement them in the game and it worked to our advantage. We got 5x6 stops and then were able to score goals and it helped to create a great flow for us." -- Heather Petri - Team USA



Scoring:



USA: 12 (4,2,4,2) K. Craig 2, E. Windes 2, H. Petri 1, B. Hayes 1, B. Villa 1, L. Wenger 1, N. Golda 1, P. Cardenas 1, J. Steffens 1, M. van Norman 1

AUS: 6 (1,1,2,2) B. Knox 2, G. Beadsworth 1, S. Mills 1, R. Rippon 1, K. Gynther 1



Saves: USA - B. Armstrong 13



6x5 - USA - 6/11 (2/2 penalties) AUS - 4/12

JULY 6, 2008



AUSTRALIA NIPS U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM FOR WOMEN'S WATER POLO 12-11 ON FIVE METER PENALTY AS TIME EXPIRES

Bronwen Knox converted a five meter penalty shot with no time remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter to give Australia a 12-11 victory over the U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo at a jam packed Coggan Aquatic Center in La Jolla, California. The homecoming for center and San Diego native Moriah van Norman was sullied as the Aussies were able to draw the penalty in the waning seconds of the final stanza. The four game series is now split at one game piece after the United State's victory on Friday.



Van Norman did not disappoint the home crowd as she scored the games first goal less than a minute into the match to give Team USA a lead they would hold for a long time. Lauren Wenger followed up a minute later with a score and it was an early 2-0 advantage for USA. Australia took some momentum back scoring a goal to draw within 2-1 and then halting a five meter penalty try by USA and it was just a one goal game after the first.



In the second Natalie Golda joined the action scoring a goal at the 5:12 mark, and then added another cashing in on a drawn five meter by van Norman and USA was in front 4-1. The lead kept growing when Elsie Windes took a dish from Brenda Villa and found the cage to make it 5-2. Brittany Hayes tacked on another score and things appeared to be in hand at 6-2. Australia put on a min-run of their own as Jenna Santoromito connected on a goal, and then on a broken play found herself all alone headed to the net and bounced in another score to make it 6-4 USA. Windes lobbed in a goal shortly after that and things were still in Team USA's favor at 7-4 at halftime.



The aussies strung together two goals to start the second half and they were down just a score at 7-6. Van Norman connected on a man-up scenario, the lead was back to two, but Australia captain Melissa Rippon answered the call with a score and it was 8-7 with play moving to the fourth. In the final frame Knox ripped the net to tie the score at 8-8, but that was short lived as 17 seconds later Villa lobbed on in and USA was in front 9-8. Back and forth they went as the teams traded goals getting to 10-10. Knox would score again on a drawn five meter and Australia grabbed their first lead of the game at 11-10.



Hayes would come up huge for Team USA as quick passing led to a opening on the right side and the southpaw took advantage lighting the proverbial lamp to tie it at 11-11. Team USA's defense then held until the closing seconds and the five meter call which sealed their hopes for a second straight win over Australia. Betsey Armstrong was solid in net putting aside nine saves, while Golda led in scoring with three scores. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday evening at Coronado High School in Coronado, CA at 7pm.



Quotes:



"Playing Australia is always great, playing them is always tough, everytime we get a chance to play them it is a benefit." - Moriah van Norman - USA Center



"It's nice to be home and play, we don't get a chance to play here very often let alone in the United States so it is nice." - Moriah van Norman - USA Center



Scoring:



USA - 11 (2,5,1,3) N. Golda 3, B. Hayes 2, E. Windes 2, M. van Norman 2, L. Wenger 1, B. Villa 1

AUS - 12 (1,3,3,5) B. Knox 4, M. Rippon 3, J. Santoromito 2, G. Beadsworth 1, T. Gofers 1, M. Santoromito 1



Saves - USA - B. Armstrong 9 -- AUS - A. McCormack 6



6x5 - USA - 3-9 (2/3 penalties) AUS - 4-8 (2/2 penalties)

JULY 4, 2008



U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM FOR WOMEN'S WATER POLO OUTLASTS AUSTRALIA 13-12 IN FOURTH OF JULY BARNBURNER AT JOINT FORCES TRAINING BASE

The fireworks started early in Los Alamitos, California on the fourth of July as the U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Water Polo and the Australian Olympic team combined for 25 goals with Team USA edging out a 13-12 win. The victory came in front a jam packed crowd at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos as the win kicked off a four game set against the rivals from down under.



Australia started out in front early building a 3-1 lead in the first quarter on the heels of a Bronwen Knox goal, her second of the period. USA ramped up their effort as Natalie Golda put one home on a man-up scenario to draw within 3-2, and then Brittany Hayes ripped the net with just 11 seconds left in the period to tie the score at 3-3. Australia would score with just three seconds left in the quarter to hold a one goal advantage 4-3 after the first.



In the second the USA tied things up immediately as Elsie Windes lit the proverbial lamp and tied the game at 4-4. Then following an Aussie exclusion the goal was scored by Golda and USA grabbed their lead of the game at 5-4. Australia would counter with a score about two minutes later to tie it at 5-5 but the see-saw scoring would continue. Kami Craig drew a five meter penalty in front of the goal which led to an attempt by Brenda Villa. Villa missed on the first try but a Australia was whistled for a violation and Villa cashed in on the second chance to bring back the lead for Team USA at 6-5.



Knox found the net again for her third goal to tie the game on a man-up but then with just thirty seconds left in the half Craig took an entry pass, ditched her defender with a nasty spin move and found the net to give the lead back 7-6 at the half. In the third quarter Team USA led 8-6 as Windes found the net again but that was short lived with two straight Australia goals and the game was knotted at 8-8. Lauren Wenger changed that with a score on a man advantage to go up 9-9. Australia as usual answered right back to tie it at 9-9 and that was countered by a Patty Cardenas lob shot to give USA the lead again at 10-9.



The fourth quarter continued the see-saw battle at a Suzie Fraser goal tied the score for Australia at 10-10. Brittany Hayes drew a five meter penalty in front of the goal which was made good by Golda to take an 11-10 lead. Team USA seemed to put this one to bed with 2:16 to as Alison Gregorka found the cage to go up 13-10. Australia was not done scoring two straight goals, the last coming with :18 seconds left, but USA was able to run out the clock.



Betsey Armstrong did the job in net for Team USA impounding 11 shots on the night. The evening was highlighted by a closing fireworks display that set off to honor America's birth as well as the 100th anniversary of FINA. Team USA takes on Australia again on Sunday afternoon at 4pm at the Coggan Center in La Jolla, CA.



Quotes: "We've been stressing counter attack and half court defense. Our set defense was good and I think we accomplished what we set out to today. Any time you can play against Australia you know they are bringing their "A" game to play us." Natalie Golda, USA Defender



"It's great, I've on the team full time now for two years and I've developed a great deal of confidence. I think it's really encouraging for people outside of California to know they can go all the way in this sport." Betsey Armstrong - USA Goalkeeper



"Defensively, disappointing, let in way too many easy goals. Offensively, I was pretty happy, but we won't win too many games that way on defense, we need to work on defense." - Greg McFadden - Australia Head Coach



Scoring:



USA: 13 (3,4,3,3) N. Golda 4, E. Windes 2, B. Hayes 1, B. Villa 1, L. Wenger 1, P. Cardenas 1, J. Steffens 1, A. Gregorka 1, K. Craig

AUS: 12 (4,2,3,3) G. Beadsworth 3, B. Knox 3, S. Fraser 2, K. Gynther 2, T. Gofers 1, R. Rippon 1



Saves: USA - B. Armstrong 11 -- AUS - E. Knox 5



6x5 - USA - 4/9 - AUS 7/11

Penalty - USA 2/2