London, England - May 4 - The USA Women's National Team made it two straight wins to open the VISA Water Polo International, defeating Australia 10-9, in a come-from-behind effort. After taking the lead for a final time with less than two minutes to play, Team USA survived a final flurry from Australia. Betsey Armstrong (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC) made a crucial block with two seconds to play to preserve the victory. Armstrong's 11 saves anchored the defense while three different players added two goals on offense.

Australia got on the board early grabbing a 1-0 lead on a penalty shot just ninety seconds into the match. Team USA answered with consecutive goals from Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) and Melissa Seidemann (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford), both on power plays, to take a 2-1 lead with 2:41 left in the period. Australia answered with a power play goal of their own moments later, and the match was even at 2-2 after the first.

Scoring picked up in the second period with Australia grabbing the lead just 23 seconds into the session for a 3-2 game. Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF) drew a penalty two minutes later and Maggie Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo) converted to tie the game at 3-3. The Aussies put together two straight goals to re-take the lead at 5-3 with 2:27 left in the half. Undaunted, the United States battled back, first an Annika Dries (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET) score in front brought the USA to within in a score at 5-4. Then, with just four seconds left in the period, it was Jessica Steffens (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC) using a low skip shot to beat the keeper for a 5-5 game at intermission.

The see-saw battle continued in the third with the teams exchanging goals throughout the period. Australia went up 6-5 early, only to see Craig score a natural goal moments later to even the tally at 6-6. Then three minutes later Australia retook the lead at 7-6, but that was short-lived when Dries hit for a power play goal on a dish from Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC) for a 7-7 game going to the fourth.

In the fourth the teams stayed close with Australia opening the scoring with a goal from Ashleigh Southern her fourth of the night. Lauren Wenger (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC) countered for Team USA on the power play for an 8-8 match. The United States finally got back in the lead when Seidemann delivered on the counter attack for a 9-8 lead, their first lead since the first period. Southern deposited her fifth goal into the cage a little over a minute later to tie the game at 9-9. The difference maker followed when on the next possession the United States drew a power play and Craig was able to hit on the quick for a 10-9 lead. The United States killed off an Australian power play with less than a minute remaining and seemed to be in position to salt the clock away. Controlling the ball with under 40 seconds remaining the United States turned it over giving Australia a final chance on goal. The last chance attempt by the Aussies was halted by Armstrong and Team USA came away victorious.

The United States went 5/8 on power plays while Australia was 2/5. Each team was 1/1 on penalty shot attempts. The United States closes out preliminary play tomorrow with a match against host Great Britain at 3:20pm local time/7:20am pst.

Scoring
USA 10 (2, 3, 2, 3) M. Seidemann 2, K. Craig 2, A. Dries 2, M. Steffens 1, J. Steffens 1, L. Wenger 1, B. Villa 1
AUS 9 (2, 3, 2, 2)

Saves - USA - B. Armstrong 11
6x5 - USA 5/8 - AUS 2/5
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - AUS 1/1