Santa Barbara’s Kami Craig led the USA Women’s Water Polo Team with four goals in Wednesday’s 9-9 draw with Spain.
After two matches, the Americans and Spaniards are together atop the Group A standings with 3 points apiece.
For Craig, who is playing in her second Olympics, the four goals is a single-game Olympic high. The 25-year-old Santa Barbara High School grad has totaled five goals in the two matches so far in London.
“The girls did a great job working the ball around, finding me, and putting that ball right where I need it,” Craig told the L.A. Times’ Brian Hamilton. “Having one Olympics under your belt definitely prepares you for the next — just being a little bit more calm out there, not so excited being the baby on the team.”
The Americans trailed Spain 3-1 after the first quarter. Craig really turned it on in the third period when she collected three of her four goals to change a 5-3 halftime deficit into a 7-6 lead going into the final period.
Team USA rode the momentum to a 9-6 lead halfway through the fourth quarter, but Spain managed to score three straight in the final three minutes to earn a point in the standings.
The final pool-play matches for Spain and USA come on Friday, with the Americans facing China and Spain taking on Hungary.
