Sami Hill and Kiley Neushul defend against Canada
In their first competition since winning the first Olympic Gold Medal in the history of U.S. Women?s Water Polo, Team USA dispatched Canada and Brazil in four consecutive days of competition at the FINA World League Prelims held at Los Alamitos, California Friday through Memorial Day.
Long-time rival Canada is now coached by Guy Baker, former head coach of Team USA and among the most successful women?s coaches in the world. ?Canada?s last meeting with the U.S. took place at the 2011 Pan American Games where the match ended in a historic 27-26 shootout victory that qualified Team USA for the Olympics and set the stage for victory in London.
In the first match with Canada on Friday, Kami Craig (SBAC/SBHS) opened scoring for the U.S. with a strike from center less than a minute into the first quarter.? Canada responded and led 5-3 with 4:22 to go in the first half.? Kiley Neushul (SBAC/DPHS) and Stanford teammate Annika Dries each scored goals to even the match 5-5 at halftime.
Kami Craig and Kiley Neushul at 2013 FINA World League Prelims
Team USA never looked back in the second half, scoring four consecutive goals to lead 9-4 in the fourth and going on to win 11-7.? Craig, a two time Olympic medalist, drew a 5-meter penalty shot and several key ejections at center to help the U.S. ice the game.? The SBAC veteran is the world?s most dominant center forward.
In Saturday?s first game of competition the U.S. shut down Brazil 10-0 in a defensive struggle that saw a less experienced Brazilian squad keep the game close for the first half of play.? Brazil is hosting the 2016 Olympic Games and automatically receives the America?s bid in the competition. ?That means traditional rivals U.S.A. and Canada must battle the rest of the world for an ?at large? place in the 2016 Olympic Games.
High school team mates Sami Hill (SBAC/DPHS) and Kiley Neushul joined forces on USA Team 2 in a re-match with Canada in Saturday?s second game.? ?Hill is coming off a spectacular season at UCLA where she set a school record for blocks in 2013.? Her remarkable streak of lights-out goalkeeping continued against team Canada as she stymied their outside shooters.
Canada scored first on a power play but the U.S. responded and led the game at half time.? The Canadian?s pulled within 7-4 late in the third quarter and played a very physical final quarter.? Neushul scored twice and assisted Stanford teammate Ashley Grossman for a score at center forward to slam the door on team Canada in the 4th and help lead Team USA 2 to a 9-6 win.? Hill sealed the victory with a remarkable 12 blocks against one of the world?s most experienced teams.
Team USA met Canada in a third match on Sunday that saw the northern powerhouse respond after their earlier defeats with a strong performance particularly on extra man.? The Canadians led by a goal early in the fourth quarter until Courtney Matthewson scored the tied the score from outside off a pass from Neushul with 5:30 left in the fourth.
Kami Craig iced the game for Team USA powering home a goal from center, her second of the game, with three minutes left.? That goal proved enough as the US locked down on defense and smothered a last minute player advantage for Canada.? Two-time Olympian Betsy Armstrong starred in goal for the US where she made 14 blocks including a 5-Meter penalty attempt.
The US struggled offensively, missing a 5-meter and going 0-6 on power plays.? Canada, led by Monica Eggen?s four goals, went 4-7 in extra player situations.? Eggens starred for the University of Hawaii that won the 2013 Big West Women?s Water Polo title.? On Monday the U.S. defeated Brazil 10-1 to complete a perfect weekend of water polo.
Team USA?s next completion is the 2013 FINA Women?s Water Polo World League Super Final held in Beijing, China from 1-7 June.? Matches will be played at the spectacular ?Water Cube? arena built for the 2008 Olympic Games.
