Team USA women edge Spain
The United States senior national women’s water polo team improved to 3-0 at the Olympic Qualification Tournament after beating Spain, 8-6, on Wednesday in Gouda, the Netherlands.
Team USA features former CdM star Maddie Musselman and former Newport Harbor and USC standout Kaleigh Gilchrist.
Laguna Beach High graduate Makenzie Fischer led Team USA with four goals against Spain, while former Los Alamitos standout Rachel Fattal scored two. Melissa Seidemann and team captain Maggie Steffens added one goal apiece. Ashley Johnson made 12 saves.
Team USA led just 6-5 in the fourth quarter before back-to-back goals from Fischer.
The United States, which is the top-ranked team in the world, needs to finish top four in the tournament to punch its ticket to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Team USA continues group play Thursday against Greece at 7:20 a.m. Pacific time. The match will be webcast live online.
Team USA concludes group play against South Africa on Friday, before the important quarterfinal round on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time. That match will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network.