In this match the United States came out firing as Rulon (Point Loma, CA/UCLA) struck first on a player advantage just 90 seconds into the match to give Team USA a 1-0 lead. Moments later the red, white, and blue were in transition and Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC) took a dish from Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California) for the score and a 2-0 lead. The defense got off to a great start as well as on a following possession Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan) halted China's chance on a double exclusion and the lead remained at two.
China would break through with a score at the 3:15 mark but this was answered by Tanya Gandy (San Diego, CA/UCLA) taking advantage of a 6x5 to find the net and a 3-1 lead. The Chinese followed with goal to draw within 3-2 but then with :36 remaining in the period Jessica Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford) took advantage of a double kickout on China and tallied a score for a 4-2 USA lead.
The second frame opened with more United States defense as Armstrong knocked away a five meter penalty shot by the Chinese. From there Petri came through with the first of her three goals on the day skipping home a goal for a 5-2 lead in favor of Team USA. Another five meter penalty was called on the USA, the second of five for the match and again China faltered taking two long to deliver the shot and their deficit remained at three.
A few possessions later and China tallied a power play goal from Ao Gao who scored five total and it was 5-3 in favor of the United States. As play moved the other way Moriah van Norman (San Diego, CA/USC) worked inside to draw a penalty which was converted by Rulon and the lead was back to three at 6-3 USA. China made a mini rally scoring back to back goals to come within 6-5, the last on their first successful attempt at a penalty shot and it was a one goal game with 2:03 left in the half. Petri came calling again with less than a minute to play scoring from the near side and it was 7-5 Team USA going into halftime.
The United States picked up where they left off to open the third quarter as a beautiful fast break was executed with Petri finding Rulon who found Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC) right on the doorstep for the score and an 8-5 lead. A China exclusion minutes later led to another score as Petri found the cage for a 9-5 lead, and then Rulon was the beneficiary of a well executed counter attack and it was 10-5 USA, their largest lead of the match.
Defense remained a staple as another six on four possession for China was foiled by the Americans and it remained 10-5. China, however, was able to close out the period with consecutive goals to keep things close at 10-7 going to fourth. The Chinese made their strongest rally early in the fourth. Yet another five meter was called on the United States and China took advantage scoring to get within two at 10-8. Then another five meter call followed less than a minute later and China was back to within one at 10-9 with 6:18 to go.
No panic from the United States as they worked their offense on an ensuing possession to draw an exclusion. This resulted in Steffens scoring from out in front for a two goal lead at 11-9. The gamebreaker would come after as Alison Gregorka (Ann Arbor, MI/Stanford) bounced one in from the nearside at the 4:20 mark giving the United States the three goal advantage at 12-9, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Team USA was superb on player advantages going 8-11, while China was 4-11. In addition the USA converted their lone penalty attempt with China going 3/5. Armstrong finished the match with 10 saves including the block on an early five meter try. The game time for Spain is to be determined, Spain is coming off a 12-6 defeat of Brazil and earned a bye into the quarterfinals.
"It's good to get off a good start, this is the first game I felt like we played well in the first quarter. It takes alot of energy sometimes to come back from behind, and this just helps with our confidence as well." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
"I think we can attack and we can score goals and create offensive opportunities in any way, our centers are strong, our attack is very strong as well" Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
"Spain is a much improved team from a year or two ago and they are a quick team, an explosive and intelligent team and we're going to have our hands full." Adam Krikorian, USA Head Coach
Scoring: USA 12 (4, 3, 3, 2) K. Rulon 3, H. Petri 3, J. Steffens 2, A. Gregorka 1, L. Wenger 1, T. Gandy 1, K. Craig 1
CHN 9 (2, 3, 2, 2) A. Gao 5, H. Sun 2, J. He 1, Y. Wang 1
Saves
USA - B. Armstrong 10
CHN - J. Yang 7
6x5 - USA - 8/11 - CHN - 4/11
Penalties - USA 1/1 - CHN - 3/5
Water Polo World Championships: 19 July - 1 August
- Schedule: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Team Roster: USA Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Men's Results: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- Women's Results: Water Polo 2009 World Championships
- About Swimming: Water Polo World Championships Central
- Results from Omega Timing
- 2009 Swimming World Championships On-line Video and TV Schedule
