A hattrick to WAIS athlete Gemma Beadsworth has helped Australia to a 7-5 win over the USA as the Stingers claimed the 2014 Intercontinental Cup in California.
The Stingers began strongly with dual Olympic bronze medallist Gemma Beadsworth striking first for Australia. Combination work between Beadsworth and FINA World Championship silver medallist Keesja Gofers yielded a second goal, before Gofers efforts in attack to draw a penalty paid dividends for captain Rowie Webster who slotted the goal.The USA could only manage one goal with the score 3-1 at the end of the first quarter.
After holding the advantage in the first period, the start of the second belonged to the USA with an outside shot from US player Kaleigh Gilchrist and a penalty equalising the score 3-3 early on. In a quiet quarter where defence was key, a late goal to Ash Southern, with assistance from WAIS athlete Eliesha Browne meant the Stingers held a slender 4-3 lead at the main break.
Retiring Olympian Sophie Smith, came out firing in the third quarter driving to the inside to score and hand the Stingers some breathing space as they edged two goals ahead. An increasingly tough exclusion count worked against the Aussies as the hosts responded with a pair of goals via Kami Craig and Jill Kraus, only for captain Rowie Webster to power home with eight seconds remaining to give Australia a 6-5 lead at the final break.
The vocal home crowd lifted the intensity of the game as the US pressed for the equaliser early in the fourth. Aussie keeper Kelsey Wakefield held firm keeping the USA scoreless, and when Beadsworth netted her third with 1.48 left on the clock, Australia’s margin was back out to two.
US coach Adam Krikorian called a timeout with 45 seconds remaining, but it was to little avail as Wakefield continued the fourth quarter shutout, to hand Australia a memorable victory.
Four WAIS athletes shared in the Stingers’ success, with Jessica Zimmerman and Lilian Hedges joining Beadsworth and Browne in the final.
The Stingers now return home for a brief rest, before eyeing off further success at the FINA World League Finals in China, starting on June 10.
-WaterPoloAus
