Fresh off qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics the USA Women’s Water Polo National Team opened up their four game exhibition series against Greece with a 17-6 victory in front of a sold-out crowd. Coming off her MVP performance at the FINA World League Super Final Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/UCLA/CdM Aquatics) led the way on offense with four goals for Team USA and Gabby Stone (La Jolla, CA/Stanford/NYAC) came up big behind the goal posts with 13 saves.
A full replay of the match is available here:
The two teams will meet again on Monday at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, CA at 7:00 PM PT. The match on Monday is sold out. The game will live stream at Facebook.com/usawp and YouT
Team USA got on the board first through a goal from Kiley Neushul (Isla Vista, CA/Stanford/NYAC) and then proceeded to score three more goals as they jumped out an early 4-0 lead. Greece pulled back one goal late as the first quarter ended with Team USA leading 4-1. The second quarter was a tighter affair as the teams went back and forth with Musselman striking twice as Team USA doubled up Greece 8-4 at halftime.
The second half was all Team USA as they took control in the third quarter outscoring Greece 4-2 and spreading the offense as four different players scored. Team USA never looked back as they kept the pedal floored on offense outscoring Greece 5-0 in the fourth quarter as they went on to win 17-6.
Team USA went 8/12 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Greece was 2/6 on power plays and 0/0 on penalties.
USA Women’s Water Polo National Team Scoring:
USA 17 (4, 4, 4, 5)
GRE 6 (1, 3, 2, 0)
USA: M. Musselman 4, K. Neushul 3, A. Williams 3, A. Fischer 2, B. Games 2, M. Steffens 1, J. Neushul 1, A. Fischer 1
GRE: E. Xenaki 2, I. Chydirioti 1, A. Avramidou 1, A. Asimaki 1, N. Eleftheriadou 1
Saves – USA – G. Stone 13 – GRE – 6
6-on-5 – USA – 8/12 – GRE – 2/6
Penalties – USA 1/1 – GRE – 0/0
Referees – Jennifer McCall and Haz Ortega
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