While the NCAA season may be over, two women from the UCLA women’s water polo team still saw some playing time in the pool. This time, they were joined up with some of their collegiate foes in a collective effort to help the USA Women’s Senior National Team compete against seven other nations for top spot in the FINA World League Super Final in Kunshan, China.
Team USA took the gold in a 10-8 victory over Italy in a matchup that saw both Bruins make significant contributions. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Sami Hill blocked seven shots in goal while junior attacker Rachel Fattal scored three times against the Italians.
Also contributing to Team USA’s victory over the Italians were several Mountain Pacific Sports Federation players who Hill and Fattal encountered as opponents over the course of last season.
Stanford attacker Annika Dries, who scored three times and helped shut down UCLA’s offense in Stanford’s rout of UCLA at the NCAA championships, scored once against Italy. Her college teammate, driver Maggie Steffens, who also scored in the NCAA final, had three goals.
On the way to the final, the USA women dominated in qualifying via the FINA Intercontinental Tournament, going undefeated against five other countries in the tournament hosted by the Americans in the Riverside Aquatics Complex.
Team USA was also able to continue its undefeated run through the Super Final, although there was a road bump as early as the opening game of group play against Russia on June 10 that threatened to derail that perfect record. The score was tied at 6 a piece at the end of regulation, but the Americans won the ensuing shootout 5-4 to edge the Russians out 11-10.
This FINA World League Super Final victory marks Team USA’s eighth gold win in 11 appearances in the gold medal match since the inception of the tournament in 2004.
Compiled by Erik Rehnberg, Bruin Sports contributor.