We played Russia in the semi final of the 4 nations cup...They had beat us soundedly a couple days ago so we were excited for the rematch..It was a hard fought game..We were able to control the game with good ball control on offense and fairly good defense..We are still struggling with our 5on6 and 6on5...We were only able to convert 2 of 6 on 6on5 and a 5m...Russia was able to covert 5for 9...With two big 5on6 saves in the last part of the 4th quarter...they game was a high scoring game ending 12-10
figee 1, villa 2,golda 2,cardenas 2,steffans 2, gregorka 1,van norman 2
We play Australia in the final tomorrow at 1130 am est...
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Shoot out!!!!
We beat Australia in a shoot out....
The game began with lots of intensity and aggresiveness from both teams..The rivalry between Australia and the US has grown with the success of both teams..We tend to meet up in lots of knockout games..
All I remember from the game is being down 7-4 going into the 4th quarter..I actually got to watch a lot of the game because I was majored by the end of the second quarter..To start of the fourth quarter we came out with two unaswered goals..We finally started focusing and listening to the coaching staffs instructions and we were patient and broke down their defense...We had an opportunity to win the game in regulation but missed a 5 m...So we played defense after that and went into a shoot out..One of our shooter's hit the bar and Betsey responded buy blocking one of the 5m..When it came down to both teams last shooters australia's captain sailed it over the goal and Petri without a second thought nailed the game winning penalty...It was such an exciting game..We should a lot of character coming back from the loss yesterday and getting back on track in the 4th quarter today..
petri 2, wenger 2,golda 2,cardenas 1, gregorka 1
final score 8-8--after shoot out 12-11...
The game began with lots of intensity and aggresiveness from both teams..The rivalry between Australia and the US has grown with the success of both teams..We tend to meet up in lots of knockout games..
All I remember from the game is being down 7-4 going into the 4th quarter..I actually got to watch a lot of the game because I was majored by the end of the second quarter..To start of the fourth quarter we came out with two unaswered goals..We finally started focusing and listening to the coaching staffs instructions and we were patient and broke down their defense...We had an opportunity to win the game in regulation but missed a 5 m...So we played defense after that and went into a shoot out..One of our shooter's hit the bar and Betsey responded buy blocking one of the 5m..When it came down to both teams last shooters australia's captain sailed it over the goal and Petri without a second thought nailed the game winning penalty...It was such an exciting game..We should a lot of character coming back from the loss yesterday and getting back on track in the 4th quarter today..
petri 2, wenger 2,golda 2,cardenas 1, gregorka 1
final score 8-8--after shoot out 12-11...
Friday, November 30, 2007
let it snow!!!
as we were getting ready to depart for our game vs Australia...it started snowing in montreal....so we walked through the snow to catch the metro to our game...here we are outside the pool, getting ready to battle the aussies!!!!!
Winning streak is over!!!!!
36 games without losing...we didnt think about this winning streak or talk about this winning streak..but now that it is gone...we miss it...Today at the 4 nations tournament the Russian showed up with their A game and we started with our A game and ended with our B game...They handed our butts to us with a loss of 7-11 and ended the winning streak...But we thank the Russians...we will learn from that loss and move forward..
On a side note..it was very fitting that the Russians handed us our first loss in 36 games...they were the last team to beat us before we went on this streak..We walked away from the world cup last summer with a 4th place finish with a loss to the russians..That made us raise the bar and that fueled our wonderful year of 2007..now we are on our next little journey..so thanks russia..were back on track...
On a side note..it was very fitting that the Russians handed us our first loss in 36 games...they were the last team to beat us before we went on this streak..We walked away from the world cup last summer with a 4th place finish with a loss to the russians..That made us raise the bar and that fueled our wonderful year of 2007..now we are on our next little journey..so thanks russia..were back on track...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
4 NATIONS TOURNAMENT
So, I was once promised never to come back to Canada during the winter months because it gets really cold and we usually have to catch the metro to practices and games...However, it seems that the promise was broken...We are back to montreal for a 4 nations tournament that consists of Canada, Australia, Russia and USA..
Tonight we opened up with the home country...
Villa 3, Golda 2, Steffens 1, Van Norman 1, Craig 1
2 for 5...6on5 1-1 penalty
2 for 7...5on6 1-1 penalty
the game started off pretty slow...at the end of the first quarter the score was 1-1.. You could definately tell that we have not played an official game since we qualified for the Olympics in july..I think our goal is to get better each quarter and each game.We definately picked up our play in the second half and went up by 2 goals..However, we let them back in the game with some miscommunication on defense and a lack of attack on offense..But we figured it out pretty quickly and went to work on offense...
the final score was 8-6 but at the begginng of the fourth quarter is was 7-4 at one point...Tomorrow we play Russia at 6:30pm est
wish us luck...
Tonight we opened up with the home country...
Villa 3, Golda 2, Steffens 1, Van Norman 1, Craig 1
2 for 5...6on5 1-1 penalty
2 for 7...5on6 1-1 penalty
the game started off pretty slow...at the end of the first quarter the score was 1-1.. You could definately tell that we have not played an official game since we qualified for the Olympics in july..I think our goal is to get better each quarter and each game.We definately picked up our play in the second half and went up by 2 goals..However, we let them back in the game with some miscommunication on defense and a lack of attack on offense..But we figured it out pretty quickly and went to work on offense...
the final score was 8-6 but at the begginng of the fourth quarter is was 7-4 at one point...Tomorrow we play Russia at 6:30pm est
wish us luck...
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Team Tornado Top 40 Champs..
The injury curse at top 40 continues...there were a couple broken noses, a pulled groin and a plethora of black eyes...
However, the last team standing in the water was Team Tornado....Members of Team Tornado=== Van Norman, Steffen, Villa, Hipp, Davies, Stein, Nueshel, Moss and Krug..
Hipp was awarded Most valuable Goalkeeper..I was given most valuable player but passed it on to Steffens, she did it all for us this weekend, defended all the centers and scored some goals...
Here is an awesome picture taken in the first quarter of the final game..Hipp making one of her 8 saves to help us win the title..Team Tornado ended up beating team Camo 5to3....
Next thing on the agenda is HOLIDAY CUP being held at Belmont Dec 5-9...You wont have to freeze at Los Alamitos so no excuses come watch us in action..
However, the last team standing in the water was Team Tornado....Members of Team Tornado=== Van Norman, Steffen, Villa, Hipp, Davies, Stein, Nueshel, Moss and Krug..
Hipp was awarded Most valuable Goalkeeper..I was given most valuable player but passed it on to Steffens, she did it all for us this weekend, defended all the centers and scored some goals...
Here is an awesome picture taken in the first quarter of the final game..Hipp making one of her 8 saves to help us win the title..Team Tornado ended up beating team Camo 5to3....
Next thing on the agenda is HOLIDAY CUP being held at Belmont Dec 5-9...You wont have to freeze at Los Alamitos so no excuses come watch us in action..
Monday, October 29, 2007
Happy Halloween/ Come watch Top 40
happy halloween...
we are finally back in the pool doing are usual routine...Most of the california fires are under control and the air quality is back to normal...We are getting ready to play in the top 40 this weekend...we play sat and sunday....here is how the national team was split up...the rest of the team is made up by youth and junior team players and some wild cards...
Team 1 Tornado--Brenda, Jessica, Jaime, Moriah
Team 2 Solar----Lauren, Allison, Erika
Team 3 Camo-----Petie, Elsie, Patty, Kami
Team 4 Tribal---Betsey,Natalie,Brittany
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Pike's Peak kicked our ASS!!!!
We believe we are well conditioned athletes..take us out of our element and we get our butts kicked...However, we took on the challenge of getting to the summit of pikes peak..we didnt complete our challenge but it didnt stop us from trying...This is one of the strengths of our team..with no fear we take on challenges and push our limits...We are just getting started...
"Outcondition your opponents"
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Who knew???
Today to my surprise I found out there is a mini video of me with some pictures and some goals of the last few years..wether its me with Stanford, Team USA or Orizzonte..kind of fun..enjoy...It makes me excited to see that their putting women polo players on the web not just the men....
Monday, October 1, 2007
We are grinding away....306 days till Opening Ceremonies!
Sleep...Polo...Eat...Sleep...Polo....
This is the cycle most of us on the USA olympic water polo now follow that we are in our full time training regiment..We go seven practices a week...We are incorporating new elements to our training...we play land sports like ultimate water polo and we pretend we are in boot camp and run in formation on the base...pretty hilarious..we also do some agility drills on land that would make some land sports peeps giggle...but we can hold our own...
Our next "competition" will be the Top 40...This tournament consist of splitting up the national, jr national, youth team into 4 teams and hosting a festival type tournament..This is a great way to showcase the pipeland the Women's water polo team has build in the last 8 years...
Till then we find other ways to entertain ourselves and to try and stay sane...watch this video and enjoy our wacky personalities...stay tuned because we are brainstorming some other wacky ideas to pursue..any ideas...post a comment.
This is the cycle most of us on the USA olympic water polo now follow that we are in our full time training regiment..We go seven practices a week...We are incorporating new elements to our training...we play land sports like ultimate water polo and we pretend we are in boot camp and run in formation on the base...pretty hilarious..we also do some agility drills on land that would make some land sports peeps giggle...but we can hold our own...
Our next "competition" will be the Top 40...This tournament consist of splitting up the national, jr national, youth team into 4 teams and hosting a festival type tournament..This is a great way to showcase the pipeland the Women's water polo team has build in the last 8 years...
Till then we find other ways to entertain ourselves and to try and stay sane...watch this video and enjoy our wacky personalities...stay tuned because we are brainstorming some other wacky ideas to pursue..any ideas...post a comment.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Summer polo comes to an end!!
Most of international water polo ended this weekend.. Here in Los Alamitos, California, I was able to attend the Men's Junior World Championships and watch some pretty good water polo..I was really impressed with Team USA they beat Croatia and played Italy tough in the quarterfinal..They lost that game and I was heart broken..But the saving grace was that there was a packed house every evening supporting team USA..They finished 6th losing to Australia on the final day of competition..I was glad I was able to be apart of this event and experience the excitement for water polo here in the US..I just want to be able to spread that excitement throughout the country and for all levels of water....
On a personal note, the summer vacation has come to an end..training begins this week...and our journey to Beijing for TEAM USA will now begin....Im so excited...
On a water polo note, the European qualification tournament held in Kirishi, Russia ended on sunday with the a surprise to most...The Dutch team clinched that berth going through the tournament unbeaten..They opened up their first game with a tie agaisnt Russia but then and never lost...The Dutch beat the italians in the semifinal and the russians in the final game in overtime..Congrats to the Dutch team...very impressed..So, as of now, their are three teams now qualified for the 2008 Olympic games..Team USA, Holland and China....The next opportunity for countries to qualify will be at the Olympic Qualification tournament held in Trieste, Italy..February, 2008...
On a personal note, the summer vacation has come to an end..training begins this week...and our journey to Beijing for TEAM USA will now begin....Im so excited...
On a water polo note, the European qualification tournament held in Kirishi, Russia ended on sunday with the a surprise to most...The Dutch team clinched that berth going through the tournament unbeaten..They opened up their first game with a tie agaisnt Russia but then and never lost...The Dutch beat the italians in the semifinal and the russians in the final game in overtime..Congrats to the Dutch team...very impressed..So, as of now, their are three teams now qualified for the 2008 Olympic games..Team USA, Holland and China....The next opportunity for countries to qualify will be at the Olympic Qualification tournament held in Trieste, Italy..February, 2008...
Saturday, July 21, 2007
we won
we won 6-4...more info to come later...
petri 1, figge 1,villa 1, wenger 1, gregorka 2....
Betsy...like one hundred saves...
Pictures and more details to come..Not our best game of water polo..but we found a way to win..
we held Canada to 0-7 on 6on5...and we went 2-5 on 6on5..the difference in the game...
We're going to Beijing...
petri 1, figge 1,villa 1, wenger 1, gregorka 2....
Betsy...like one hundred saves...
Pictures and more details to come..Not our best game of water polo..but we found a way to win..
we held Canada to 0-7 on 6on5...and we went 2-5 on 6on5..the difference in the game...
We're going to Beijing...
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Pan American's: Game 5
Game 5
USA vs Puerto Rico
Last game of prelimanary round and Team USA displays whats its capable of doing when they are in tune from the beginning of the game...Team USA starts out with a 5-0 run...Wenger converts on a 6on5 goal to open up the scoring..Wenger gives an assists to Villa on a 3on2 counter attack....Then Kami Craig converts a center goal....Team USA earns another ejection and Van Norman with a perfect pause scores from the post...Figgee scores her first of five with a natural goal from the outside...Puerto Rico earns an exclusion with :40 sec left in the quarter and converts...to end the quarter 5-1..
The first couple minutes of the second quarter passed by as both teams had a couple of turnovers...With 3 min into the quarter team USA earns an ejection...Petri gives Gregorka an awesome pass on the post which she converts into the first goal of the quarter....Another couple minutes pass by and Figge fires her second goal past the puerto rican goalie..The half ends 7-1 for Team USA...
The first 4 minutes of the third quarter seemed like a swim meet...finally team USA earns an ejection and Villa converts...Figee then scores her 3rd goal of the goal with another outside bullet.....Puerto Rico then gets on the board again with an outside shot....
VanNorman open up the fourth quarter with another perfect shot from the post...In the next offensive posession Figge once again fires in another goal....Two posessions later Team USA comes down with a counter attack which Gregorka converts...But it was a great structured counter attack which started with a pass from Petri to Steffens and finally to gregorka to finish it with a goal...The last goal of the game was scored by Figee after outsmarted the goalie..she ball facked a pass into set the goalie bit come out and Figee lobbed it into the goal...The final score was 13-2....
Figee 5, Villa 2, Wenger 1, Gregorka 1,VanNorman 2, Kraig 1
**** Brazil beat Cuba 10-5...
Team USA will play Cuba tomorrow at 4:30pm in the Semi’s....
USA vs Puerto Rico
Last game of prelimanary round and Team USA displays whats its capable of doing when they are in tune from the beginning of the game...Team USA starts out with a 5-0 run...Wenger converts on a 6on5 goal to open up the scoring..Wenger gives an assists to Villa on a 3on2 counter attack....Then Kami Craig converts a center goal....Team USA earns another ejection and Van Norman with a perfect pause scores from the post...Figgee scores her first of five with a natural goal from the outside...Puerto Rico earns an exclusion with :40 sec left in the quarter and converts...to end the quarter 5-1..
The first couple minutes of the second quarter passed by as both teams had a couple of turnovers...With 3 min into the quarter team USA earns an ejection...Petri gives Gregorka an awesome pass on the post which she converts into the first goal of the quarter....Another couple minutes pass by and Figge fires her second goal past the puerto rican goalie..The half ends 7-1 for Team USA...
The first 4 minutes of the third quarter seemed like a swim meet...finally team USA earns an ejection and Villa converts...Figee then scores her 3rd goal of the goal with another outside bullet.....Puerto Rico then gets on the board again with an outside shot....
VanNorman open up the fourth quarter with another perfect shot from the post...In the next offensive posession Figge once again fires in another goal....Two posessions later Team USA comes down with a counter attack which Gregorka converts...But it was a great structured counter attack which started with a pass from Petri to Steffens and finally to gregorka to finish it with a goal...The last goal of the game was scored by Figee after outsmarted the goalie..she ball facked a pass into set the goalie bit come out and Figee lobbed it into the goal...The final score was 13-2....
Figee 5, Villa 2, Wenger 1, Gregorka 1,VanNorman 2, Kraig 1
**** Brazil beat Cuba 10-5...
Team USA will play Cuba tomorrow at 4:30pm in the Semi’s....
Pan American's: Game 4
Pan American Game’s
USA vs Brazil....
Game 4
Cheering has been taken to a new level..I have never been booed getting off a bus...Today we played Brazil in the last game of the day...During warm up the lights the light up the field of play were turned off and the only lights on were in the stands...There the brazilians were dancing singing and getting ready to cheer the home team on and to boo the Americans..
But as the lights went on Team USA was up to the challenge of hearing “the silence”...
The Brazilian were first to draw blood of a US exclusion...Next possesion US scores a natural goal...A lob by Villa....Once again Brazil draws another ejection and scores...We come down on offense and draw our on ejection, Figge converts..First quarter ends in a 2-2 tie..The crowd was fired up by the Brazilian team which gave the brazilian players some confidence...The second quarter started with a natural counter attack goal from Windes..To put team USA up for the first time in the game..We then earned another ejection and Steffens converted.....That was followed by a natural outside bullet by Golda..the quarter ended with a USA exclusion and a USA 5on6 stuff..We went into the Half with a 5-2 lead...We started the half with a 6on5 goal from Cardenas...3:00 min went by before any team was able to convert any ejections or posessions..With 3:00 min left in the 3rd quarter team USA was called for an ejection...Brazil converted and the place went wild...That would be the last time the crowd would be heard.....To close out the quarter Gregorka and Windes converted natural goals to give team USA a 5 goal led to end the quarter 8-3....Team USA scored first in the fourth quarter with a fabulous center goal by vanNorman which then brought on the silence in the stands..4:00min went by and Team USA earned an ejection..Villa converted and that was the last goal scored of the game which ended 10-3....
Figee 1, Villa 2, Golda 1, Cardenas 1, Steffens 1, Windes 2, Gregorka 1, vanNorman 1
*****Cuba ties Canada 7-7....
USA vs Brazil....
Game 4
Cheering has been taken to a new level..I have never been booed getting off a bus...Today we played Brazil in the last game of the day...During warm up the lights the light up the field of play were turned off and the only lights on were in the stands...There the brazilians were dancing singing and getting ready to cheer the home team on and to boo the Americans..
But as the lights went on Team USA was up to the challenge of hearing “the silence”...
The Brazilian were first to draw blood of a US exclusion...Next possesion US scores a natural goal...A lob by Villa....Once again Brazil draws another ejection and scores...We come down on offense and draw our on ejection, Figge converts..First quarter ends in a 2-2 tie..The crowd was fired up by the Brazilian team which gave the brazilian players some confidence...The second quarter started with a natural counter attack goal from Windes..To put team USA up for the first time in the game..We then earned another ejection and Steffens converted.....That was followed by a natural outside bullet by Golda..the quarter ended with a USA exclusion and a USA 5on6 stuff..We went into the Half with a 5-2 lead...We started the half with a 6on5 goal from Cardenas...3:00 min went by before any team was able to convert any ejections or posessions..With 3:00 min left in the 3rd quarter team USA was called for an ejection...Brazil converted and the place went wild...That would be the last time the crowd would be heard.....To close out the quarter Gregorka and Windes converted natural goals to give team USA a 5 goal led to end the quarter 8-3....Team USA scored first in the fourth quarter with a fabulous center goal by vanNorman which then brought on the silence in the stands..4:00min went by and Team USA earned an ejection..Villa converted and that was the last goal scored of the game which ended 10-3....
Figee 1, Villa 2, Golda 1, Cardenas 1, Steffens 1, Windes 2, Gregorka 1, vanNorman 1
*****Cuba ties Canada 7-7....
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
BRASIL
We play brasil tonight...so excited to play in such a hostile environment...wish all water polo games and tournaments had such great atmosphere and fans..
GO USA!!!!!
GO USA!!!!!
Pan American's: Game 3
USA vs CANADA
Maybe there was a little hope in thinking that the brazilian crowd would cheer for us instead of Canada..Who likes canada anyways??..But I was definately wrong....Good thing we never have huge crowds and if there are huge crowds its never in our favor...
The Canadiens definately won the 6on5 battle last night but we walked away with the win...We didnt start as sharp as we had talked about but we definately picked up our play as the game went on and matched their intensity..They came out throwing the kitchen sink at us..
Canada drew first blood scoring a 6on5 goal...But we responded with a natural goal from Villa....Then it became a swim meet with both teams trying to push the counter and pick up the tempo of the game..
We continued to struggle a bit in the second quarter but we were able to score a nice transition goal from the center Van norman put one in the net after a great entry pass by Gregorka..The half ended tied at 4-4...
The third quarter we found some new energy and came out attacking...we were able to came back from being down 5-6 to going up 8-6.Their was some great teamwork and exection..Kraig scored a ball from the center position that was perfect.We also scored a a couple 6on5 by lauren wenger with patience after Canada stormed..however at the end of the quarter Villa was excluded with 12 secs left in the third quarter and Canada found the back of the net with 3 sec left in the game...to bring Canada back within one...
The fourth quarter began with a US natural goal that put them back up by two...The rest of the fourth quarter was a defensive battle..The US maintained composure with their 6on5 scored to maintain their two goal led....
Villa 2, Wenger 2, Golda 2, Windes 1, Kraig 2, VanNorman 1...
10-5~~~6on5
5-8~~~~5on5
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Pan American's: Game 2
Pan American Games
Game 2
USA vs Cuba...
The cubans came out with their A game..while we struggled with our C game...we had 7 turnovers in the first half...Not good...The score at the end of the first quarter was 3-2...The Cubans were up 3-1 at one point...the second quarter we continued to turn the ball over on offense and give the cubans some pretty good opportunities that they did not waste...The half ended with us leading 5-3....The second half was an entirely new USA team...the first two offensive posession goals were produced by Cardenas and Windes..To give us a cushion that we kind of ran away with...Golda then came in and blasted a perfect bar in that even the crowd had to admire...the just "ooed" instead of booed..The rest of the third quarter saw some great counter attacking by Gregorka and Golda...The fourth quarter saw a couple more goals by team USA and a couple from Cuba...They got most of their goals on 6on5...Tomorrow we will need to ready for everything..I have no doubt that we will..
goals~~~~Villa 1, Wenger 1, Golda 4, Cardenas 1, Steffens 2, Windes 1, Gregorka 3, VanNorman 1
**11 turnovers total...7 in first half
**1/6 --6on5
**4/9--5on6
Tomorrow
USA vs Canada....
Game 2
USA vs Cuba...
The cubans came out with their A game..while we struggled with our C game...we had 7 turnovers in the first half...Not good...The score at the end of the first quarter was 3-2...The Cubans were up 3-1 at one point...the second quarter we continued to turn the ball over on offense and give the cubans some pretty good opportunities that they did not waste...The half ended with us leading 5-3....The second half was an entirely new USA team...the first two offensive posession goals were produced by Cardenas and Windes..To give us a cushion that we kind of ran away with...Golda then came in and blasted a perfect bar in that even the crowd had to admire...the just "ooed" instead of booed..The rest of the third quarter saw some great counter attacking by Gregorka and Golda...The fourth quarter saw a couple more goals by team USA and a couple from Cuba...They got most of their goals on 6on5...Tomorrow we will need to ready for everything..I have no doubt that we will..
goals~~~~Villa 1, Wenger 1, Golda 4, Cardenas 1, Steffens 2, Windes 1, Gregorka 3, VanNorman 1
**11 turnovers total...7 in first half
**1/6 --6on5
**4/9--5on6
Tomorrow
USA vs Canada....
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Pan American's: Game 1
Pan American Games...
Game 1
USA vs Venezuela..
Villa 3, Wenger 3, Golda 3, Steffens 2, Gregorka 3, Kraig 6, VanNormon 1
Walking onto the ramp for introductions was definately a thrill tonight..When the home crowd boo’s you it definately gets your attention and gives you a little extra motivation to demonstrate why you are #1 in the world...The first half of the game we come out counter attacking...the score at the end of the first was 5-0...We continued to counter attack and push our transition in the second..we ended the second quarter 12-0 at half....The third quarter we decided to work on our transition game we earned a couple more ejections and our centers went to work and had a scoring festival with perfect form at set...The venezuelans were able to score a backhand and a 6on5..to end the quarter 19-2...The fourth quarter went by with the least amount of goals scored...the venezuelans scored one more 6on5 goal and we put up 2 more goals...The final score was 21-3...
****Canada vs Brazil 4-2...
the brazilians had a packed stadium filled with dancing and cheering..the canadiens struggling a litle bit with the energy and aggresiveness the brazilians showed up with...The end of the first quarter was 1-1...then 2-1...2-1...the canadiens finally opened up the game with two quick goals in the fourth and brazil added a one more to keep it interesting..Brazil played really well...
Cuba vs Puerto Rico
was a nail bitter...with the cubans coming out on top 12-11...Puerto Rico missed a 5m with 45 sec left in the game..Cuba on the next possesion earned an ejection and scored the winning goal..
USA plays CUBA tomorrow at 4:30pm...Go USA!!!!
Game 1
USA vs Venezuela..
Villa 3, Wenger 3, Golda 3, Steffens 2, Gregorka 3, Kraig 6, VanNormon 1
Walking onto the ramp for introductions was definately a thrill tonight..When the home crowd boo’s you it definately gets your attention and gives you a little extra motivation to demonstrate why you are #1 in the world...The first half of the game we come out counter attacking...the score at the end of the first was 5-0...We continued to counter attack and push our transition in the second..we ended the second quarter 12-0 at half....The third quarter we decided to work on our transition game we earned a couple more ejections and our centers went to work and had a scoring festival with perfect form at set...The venezuelans were able to score a backhand and a 6on5..to end the quarter 19-2...The fourth quarter went by with the least amount of goals scored...the venezuelans scored one more 6on5 goal and we put up 2 more goals...The final score was 21-3...
****Canada vs Brazil 4-2...
the brazilians had a packed stadium filled with dancing and cheering..the canadiens struggling a litle bit with the energy and aggresiveness the brazilians showed up with...The end of the first quarter was 1-1...then 2-1...2-1...the canadiens finally opened up the game with two quick goals in the fourth and brazil added a one more to keep it interesting..Brazil played really well...
Cuba vs Puerto Rico
was a nail bitter...with the cubans coming out on top 12-11...Puerto Rico missed a 5m with 45 sec left in the game..Cuba on the next possesion earned an ejection and scored the winning goal..
USA plays CUBA tomorrow at 4:30pm...Go USA!!!!
Viva Essa Energia
LOOK HOW CUTE WE LOOK AT OPENING CEROMONIES!!
Opening ceremonies....Brasil knows what its doing and did a fantastic job....We as athletes only paraded for about 15 min and we were able to sit and watch most of the entertainment....Some how we, the water polo girls made it to front of the US delegation right behind the flag bearer....we also were able to sit in the front row in the stadium right next to the torch that was light at the end of the opening ceremonies to officially open the games...The village is brand new and well done...About half the US delegation is here...lots of sports are coming in next week...The theme of the games is “Viva essa energia” ~~Share the energy...Brasil certainly knows how to bring the energy..Go USA..
"THE TORCH"
Opening ceremonies....Brasil knows what its doing and did a fantastic job....We as athletes only paraded for about 15 min and we were able to sit and watch most of the entertainment....Some how we, the water polo girls made it to front of the US delegation right behind the flag bearer....we also were able to sit in the front row in the stadium right next to the torch that was light at the end of the opening ceremonies to officially open the games...The village is brand new and well done...About half the US delegation is here...lots of sports are coming in next week...The theme of the games is “Viva essa energia” ~~Share the energy...Brasil certainly knows how to bring the energy..Go USA..
"THE TORCH"
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Team USA visits nation's capital
We are currently in DC training for a couple of days before heading down to Brazil for the Pan American Games..We will be in action on Saturday beginning with Venezuela...In the meantime we ran around the historical area of DC getting inspired and being proud to represent our country....GO USA!!!!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
WORLD LEAGUE CHAMPIONS BACK TO BACK!!!!
Game 5
USA vs Australia
Championship Game
We were able to defend our World League Title against the Australians today ..We talked about minimizing our turnovers and working a little harder on offense...We were able to break down their very aggresive press and over committing offense..the battle of 6on5 and 5on6 made a difference in the game..We won that battle..we kept their 6on5 to 1 of 9....and we were able to connect on 5 of 11..6on5...nice job girls...Petie opened up the scoring with a 6on5 goal in the first posession of the game..We continued with a outside bullet by Natalie Golda..Petie scored one more 6on5 goal to end the first quarter with a 3-1 lead..
I think the half ended with a lead of 5-3.Two goals contributed by lauren wenger, one on 6on5 and another natural from the outside..The details are a little blurry..I do remember that Kami Craig had an awesome goal from center in the 3rd quarter...followed up by another goal on 6on5 by cardenas...The third quarter ended with a 7-3 US lead..The fourth quarter was rounded up by 1 more goal from each team...I added the last goal for us on a 6on5...
US wins 8-4....
Petri 2, Villa 1, Wenger 2,golda 1, Cardenas 1, Kraig 1...
****The greeks ended up beating the canadiens in the 3rd place game....**
Now we head to DC for a couple days before we head to Brasil for the Pan American games...
USA vs Australia
Championship Game
We were able to defend our World League Title against the Australians today ..We talked about minimizing our turnovers and working a little harder on offense...We were able to break down their very aggresive press and over committing offense..the battle of 6on5 and 5on6 made a difference in the game..We won that battle..we kept their 6on5 to 1 of 9....and we were able to connect on 5 of 11..6on5...nice job girls...Petie opened up the scoring with a 6on5 goal in the first posession of the game..We continued with a outside bullet by Natalie Golda..Petie scored one more 6on5 goal to end the first quarter with a 3-1 lead..
I think the half ended with a lead of 5-3.Two goals contributed by lauren wenger, one on 6on5 and another natural from the outside..The details are a little blurry..I do remember that Kami Craig had an awesome goal from center in the 3rd quarter...followed up by another goal on 6on5 by cardenas...The third quarter ended with a 7-3 US lead..The fourth quarter was rounded up by 1 more goal from each team...I added the last goal for us on a 6on5...
US wins 8-4....
Petri 2, Villa 1, Wenger 2,golda 1, Cardenas 1, Kraig 1...
****The greeks ended up beating the canadiens in the 3rd place game....**
Now we head to DC for a couple days before we head to Brasil for the Pan American games...
New website
Here's a new website dedicated to information about all women's national teams..quick up to date info.
http://www.usawomenswaterpolo.org
check it out....
B
GO USA!!
http://www.usawomenswaterpolo.org
check it out....
B
GO USA!!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
World League Day 4
World League
USA VS GREECE
The battle of defense was in full swing tonight.The greeks have a special talent to lure teams into a slow tempo game.They play great zone and soft press defense,that encourages other teams to slow down there play.
The greeks were first to get on board with a 6on5 goal, We responded with a great outside goal from Natalie Golda..1-1 end of first quarter...The second quarter displayed some of lauren wenger's versatality, with a goal from the center position..Then Golda fired a "nasty" shot in the goal (welcome back), to put us up 3-1.. The greeks come up big once again with a 6on5 goal..To end the second quarter 3-2..The third quarter goals by both teams were produced by 6on5 goals...We took a lot more shots in the third quarter but unfortunately most of the them connected with the bar and not the net..Going into the fourth quarter we were up 4-3..The fourth quarter was a battle, the greeks were able to draw a 5m two minutes into the 4th quarter and tied the score..Both teams were putting up shots and putting the ball into the center position to try and draw exclusions..Elsie Windes gunned a shot from the outside to put us up 5-4..With under a minute left to play Greece calls a time out and sets up a play..they draw a 6on5 and Betsey Armstrong comes up big with a save..We swim the ball and come up with the win..
USA wins...
Wenger 1, Golda 2, Windes 1, Kraig 1
tomorrow we will face the Aussies once again in the final...
The australians beat the Canadians tonight 11-8 to advance into the final...
USA VS GREECE
The battle of defense was in full swing tonight.The greeks have a special talent to lure teams into a slow tempo game.They play great zone and soft press defense,that encourages other teams to slow down there play.
The greeks were first to get on board with a 6on5 goal, We responded with a great outside goal from Natalie Golda..1-1 end of first quarter...The second quarter displayed some of lauren wenger's versatality, with a goal from the center position..Then Golda fired a "nasty" shot in the goal (welcome back), to put us up 3-1.. The greeks come up big once again with a 6on5 goal..To end the second quarter 3-2..The third quarter goals by both teams were produced by 6on5 goals...We took a lot more shots in the third quarter but unfortunately most of the them connected with the bar and not the net..Going into the fourth quarter we were up 4-3..The fourth quarter was a battle, the greeks were able to draw a 5m two minutes into the 4th quarter and tied the score..Both teams were putting up shots and putting the ball into the center position to try and draw exclusions..Elsie Windes gunned a shot from the outside to put us up 5-4..With under a minute left to play Greece calls a time out and sets up a play..they draw a 6on5 and Betsey Armstrong comes up big with a save..We swim the ball and come up with the win..
USA wins...
Wenger 1, Golda 2, Windes 1, Kraig 1
tomorrow we will face the Aussies once again in the final...
The australians beat the Canadians tonight 11-8 to advance into the final...
Friday, July 6, 2007
World League
Game 3
USA vs CHINA
I first want to welcome back Golda and Betsy.. This is their first game back after sickness and injuty..Moriah was sick today and wasnt able to join us in the battle against the chinese..So...The chinese are getting a little better at water polo..At the end of the first quarter we were tied 1-1...believe it...We must have hit about 5 bars in the first quarter..Second quarter rolled around and it was still a close game..We put away some shots and the half ended with 4-1 lead for us...We cracked it open a little more in the 3rd quarter and it ended up 7-2..The fourth quarter seemed a bit of a swim meet..With not many goals..the game ended 9-2 for the US...Both goalies played today..
Figge 1, Wenger 1, Cardenas 3, Steffens 2, Windes 1, Kraig 1..
With today's win we are definately in the finals of of the world league..Tomorrow we play greece...
Go USA!!!
Game 3
USA vs CHINA
I first want to welcome back Golda and Betsy.. This is their first game back after sickness and injuty..Moriah was sick today and wasnt able to join us in the battle against the chinese..So...The chinese are getting a little better at water polo..At the end of the first quarter we were tied 1-1...believe it...We must have hit about 5 bars in the first quarter..Second quarter rolled around and it was still a close game..We put away some shots and the half ended with 4-1 lead for us...We cracked it open a little more in the 3rd quarter and it ended up 7-2..The fourth quarter seemed a bit of a swim meet..With not many goals..the game ended 9-2 for the US...Both goalies played today..
Figge 1, Wenger 1, Cardenas 3, Steffens 2, Windes 1, Kraig 1..
With today's win we are definately in the finals of of the world league..Tomorrow we play greece...
Go USA!!!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
World League
Day 2
Usa vs Australia
Tough game..Today was the first one goal game of the summer..We were tested..We were down 3-2 at the end of the first quarter..They scored their first 2 6on5s and we were struggling with our 6on5...With the officiating being really inconsistent it was really hard to get into a flow but we stepped up our team defense...Australia forces you to play really good team defense with all the driving and cutoffs they do..In the second half we were able to break down their press and score a couple 6on5..we were up 8-7 going into the fourth quarter..The momentum had swung our way and our conditioning definately paid off..we stepped up our defense and didnt give them many offensive options...We were able to create a counter attack opportunity and score it..Heather Petri scored this counter attack goal that deflated the aussies a bit...They were rewarded a 6on5 with 1;35 left in the game..We come up with a big block..I believe Moriah got a hand on it (YES)..We were able to control the ball play one more posession of good defense and pull out the tough win..Good thing our 5on6 was on tonight because our 6on5 struggled..
We won...9-8
Petri 1, Figge 1, Villa 1, Wenger 1, Windes 2, Gregorka 2, VanNorman
Day 2
Usa vs Australia
Tough game..Today was the first one goal game of the summer..We were tested..We were down 3-2 at the end of the first quarter..They scored their first 2 6on5s and we were struggling with our 6on5...With the officiating being really inconsistent it was really hard to get into a flow but we stepped up our team defense...Australia forces you to play really good team defense with all the driving and cutoffs they do..In the second half we were able to break down their press and score a couple 6on5..we were up 8-7 going into the fourth quarter..The momentum had swung our way and our conditioning definately paid off..we stepped up our defense and didnt give them many offensive options...We were able to create a counter attack opportunity and score it..Heather Petri scored this counter attack goal that deflated the aussies a bit...They were rewarded a 6on5 with 1;35 left in the game..We come up with a big block..I believe Moriah got a hand on it (YES)..We were able to control the ball play one more posession of good defense and pull out the tough win..Good thing our 5on6 was on tonight because our 6on5 struggled..
We won...9-8
Petri 1, Figge 1, Villa 1, Wenger 1, Windes 2, Gregorka 2, VanNorman
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
World League
Game 1
USA vs Spain..
We started out our summer adventure with a little rain on opening day.Our first rival was Spain.The final score was 12-3..We started out a little slow on the offensive side but our defense kept them to one goal in the first quarter...Our 5on6 was was money tonight..The game was called really tight and a lot of ejections were called..
goal scorers: petri 2, villa 1, wenger 2, cardenas 1, steffens 3, windes 1, van norman 1, craig 1
Tomorrow we play Australia..wish us luck...
GO USA!!!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY...HOPE YOU ATE LOTS OF HOT DOGS!
Game 1
USA vs Spain..
We started out our summer adventure with a little rain on opening day.Our first rival was Spain.The final score was 12-3..We started out a little slow on the offensive side but our defense kept them to one goal in the first quarter...Our 5on6 was was money tonight..The game was called really tight and a lot of ejections were called..
goal scorers: petri 2, villa 1, wenger 2, cardenas 1, steffens 3, windes 1, van norman 1, craig 1
Tomorrow we play Australia..wish us luck...
GO USA!!!
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY...HOPE YOU ATE LOTS OF HOT DOGS!
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