Kiley Neushul fires a shot attempt in Barcelona at the FINA World Championships. (Peter Neushul Photo)
Kami Craig and Kiley Neushul each scored as Team USA defeated Brazil 14-3 on Friday to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain on Monday.
The Americans will take on Spain in the quarterfinals in a rematch of the gold-medal match from last year’s London Olympics.
Both Craig and Neushul are upbeat and looking forward to more competitive matches in the final eight after consecutive blow out wins vs. Great Britain and Brazil.
Craig, the strongest center forward in the world, is a great target for Neushul who ?gives me some killer passes.?
Neushul agreed; ?if you hit Kami on the hand the ball is going in.?
The US trained with their next opponent, Spain, prior to the tournament and Neushul pointed out that ?their center forwards are too slow to defend our attackers so we can drive for shots.?
The combination of motion and Craig at center is very hard to overcome.
In the men’s competition, the Spanish team defeated the US team 10-6 in the all-important crossover game Saturday afternoon, relegating them to the bottom eight and hence ending US play at the 2013 World Championships. Team USA is in a building phase with a new head coach and many young players on the roster. Janson Wigo (brother of UCSB men?s coach Wolf Wigo) led the U.S. with three goals in the losing effort. A large Spanish crowd standing and chanting ?Espana!? boosted their national team.
Team USA can expect an even bigger crowd when they meet the Spanish women in the quarterfinals Monday evening at 9:30PM. The US defeated Spain in the championship game of the 2012 London Olympics winning their first ever Olympic Gold Medal. Barcelona?s spectacular Bernat Picornell water polo arena overlooking the city is an appropriate venue for a rematch. The game will be televised on Universal Sports Network.
Craig and Neushul grew up playing polo for the Santa Barbara Aquatics Club where both won JO titles. They wished the girls good luck at the 2013 National Junior Olympics where the SBAC 18s will defend their 2012 title next weekend in Orange County.
