Australia’s Women’s Water Polo team have taken the silver medal at the FINA World League Intercontinental Tournament in Texas, after a narrow 6-5 defeat to USA in the final.
With the USA ranked number one in the world the Aussies knew it was going to be a tough task in front of the sell-out home crowd, but they were determined to play a strong defensive game.
In the first quarter the Aussies were kept scoreless while the USA put away three goals, but the team came back strong in the second quarter and were right in it for the rest of the match, never backing off the pressure.
The Australians were represented by three WAIS scholarship athletes, with Gemma Beadsworth, Glencora McGhie and Zoe Arancini all members of the Stingers squad.
While the Aussies lost two from two against the USA, there was no taking away from an impressive tour with the side securing wins over; China, Canada, Japan and Brazil.
Rowie Webster tied for the ‘top goal scorer of the tournament’ with an impressive 13 goals, with Aussie Goal Keeper Kelsey Wakefield winning the ‘goal keeper of the tournament’.
Australia has now secured a spot in the FINA World League Super Final to be contested in Shanghai, China from 7-12 June. It will be the last major international competition for the Australian team ahead of the Rio Olympic Games.
The Australian Women’s Water Polo team is one of only four countries to have currently secured their spot for the Rio Olympic Games along with hosts Brazil, China and Hungary.
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