U.S. Beats Canada in Water Polo Final

The United States followed the same route as last year in winning the fourth Holiday Cup women’s water polo tournament Sunday.

The score and opponent were identical as the U.S. defeated Canada, 5-4, in the final for the second consecutive year at the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Kathy Sheehy had a goal and an assist on the first two possessions of the fourth quarter, helping the Americans take a 5-3 lead.

Sheehy assisted on a goal by UCLA-bound Amber Stachowski, then turned and scored from three meters less than a minute later.

“We always play Canada close,” said Sheehy, at 31 the oldest member of the team.

The Canadians made it 5-4 with 4 minutes 43 seconds to play, but U.S. goalkeeper Bernice Orwig, starting for the first time since a 5-4 loss to Canada in the opening round of the tournament Wednesday, had three saves down the stretch.

Orwig, who played at Savanna High, Cypress College and USC, finished with eight saves.

The game was scoreless until midway through the second quarter, when Canada’s Waneek Horn-Miller converted a penalty shot.

The U.S. scored twice in the second quarter to move ahead, 2-1, but Johanne Begin’s goal with one second left in the period tied the score, 2-2.

Ericka Lorenz put the U.S. back up by one with two minutes left in the third quarter.