Team USA celebrates after winning the FINA World Cup. Locals Kiley Neushul, Sami Hill and Kami Craig are members of the team.
Three Santa Barbara area athletes helped the USA Women’s Water Polo Team to the FINA World Cup title on Sunday.
Kami Craig (Santa Barbara High alum), Kiley Neushul (Dos Pueblos alum) and Sami Hill (DP alum) contributed in a 10-6 win over Australia in the final in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. It is the second straight World Cup title for the Americans and third overall.
The World Cup victory comes two months after winning the World Super League. Craig, Neushul and Hill were part of that title as well.
“I’m very proud of this team’s preparation, focus, and attitude throughout this tournament and the entire summer,” USA coach Adam Krikorian told USA Water Polo. “It’s a fun group that truly enjoys each other’s company. They are inspiring to watch because they play like young kids who are in love with the sport and competition.”
Hill, who joined the squad fulltime this season, played the entire final in goal and made 16 saves. Hill and Ashleigh Johnson took turns guarding the cage all tournament. Johnson was named the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
Craig, who scored a goal in the final, was chosen to the FINA World Cup Media All-Star Team. The former Dons star has now won two World Cups (last one in 2010) and an Olympics gold medal (2012).
Neushul, who was an alternate on the 2010 USA World Cup team, tallied two goals against the Aussies.
The U.S. led 3-1 after the first period and extended the lead to 7-3 by halftime. Australia cut the deficit to 7-5, but the Americans bounced back and scored the next three goals to make it 10-5 going into the final period.
“We got off to a great start. The combination of our defense and Sami’s outstanding performance in the cage was huge,” Krikorian said. “The difference for us today, as it was for the whole tournament, was our execution in six on five and five on six situations.”
Team USA scored on 5 of 7 power plays while Australia was 3 for 10.
The Americans went undefeated in the tournament, scoring two wins over Australia along with victories over South Africa, Hungary and Singapore.
