Team USA wins gold with win over Italy
Photo by: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Bruins Win Olympic Gold with Team USA
August 19, 2016 | Women's Water Polo
Defending gold medalists and undefeated over the last year, Team USA romped to a 12-5 win over Italy on Friday for its fifth consecutive Olympic medal in women's water polo. ย
Of the eight players to find the back of the net against Italy, three were Bruins. ย Redshirt senior Rachel Fattal led the charge with two goals while former Bruin and two-time gold medalist Courtney Mathewson netted one in the opening minutes of play. ย In the fourth quarter, incoming freshman Maddie Musselman rocketed a penalty shot past the Italian keeper to give Team USA an 11-4 lead. ย ย
One of the team's leading scorers, Musselman tallied 12 goalsย throughout the Olympic Games, including a game-high four goals against China in pool play. ย Overall, Mathewson notched seven for Team USA while Fattal scored four. ย Rounding out the Bruins' scoring efforts, defender KK Clark put away two of her own. ย In the cage, Hill recorded six saves in three games.
The U.S. finished the Rio Games with a goal differential of 41 after scoring 73 goals and allowing just 32 in six games played. ย Head coach Adam Krikorian joins Mathewson,ย Melissa Seidemann, captain Maggie Steffens, and Kami Craig as two-time gold medal winners. ย
Musselman becomes the thirdย UCLA freshman to earn a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, joining fellow freshmen Madison Kocian, who won one gold and one silver in gymnastics, and Jessie Fleming, who won bronze with Team Canada in soccer. ย
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Of the eight players to find the back of the net against Italy, three were Bruins. ย Redshirt senior Rachel Fattal led the charge with two goals while former Bruin and two-time gold medalist Courtney Mathewson netted one in the opening minutes of play. ย In the fourth quarter, incoming freshman Maddie Musselman rocketed a penalty shot past the Italian keeper to give Team USA an 11-4 lead. ย ย
One of the team's leading scorers, Musselman tallied 12 goalsย throughout the Olympic Games, including a game-high four goals against China in pool play. ย Overall, Mathewson notched seven for Team USA while Fattal scored four. ย Rounding out the Bruins' scoring efforts, defender KK Clark put away two of her own. ย In the cage, Hill recorded six saves in three games.
The U.S. finished the Rio Games with a goal differential of 41 after scoring 73 goals and allowing just 32 in six games played. ย Head coach Adam Krikorian joins Mathewson,ย Melissa Seidemann, captain Maggie Steffens, and Kami Craig as two-time gold medal winners. ย
Musselman becomes the thirdย UCLA freshman to earn a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, joining fellow freshmen Madison Kocian, who won one gold and one silver in gymnastics, and Jessie Fleming, who won bronze with Team Canada in soccer. ย
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Players Mentioned
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