The U.S. women’s water polo team played their best match of the 2012 London Olympics to beat Italy 9–6 Sunday.
The score was tied at three after one, 6–3, USA at the half, and 6–4 USA after three quarters due to a penalty shot.
The U.S. focused on defense through the first three quarters, collapsing back towards the two-meter line and blocking a lot of shots. This took the pressure off netminder Betsey Armstrong and kept 2-meter defender Maggie Steffens from getting too many fouls.
The U.S. opened up in the fourth quarter, scoring three goals. Italy got one two minutes into the final period and another with eight seconds left when the U.S. was just killing time, but unlike their match with Spain, this time the U.S. women didn’t let their opponents back into the match.
Melissa Seidemann scored three for the U.S. Kelly Rulon and captain Brenda Villa each got a pair, and Maggie Steffens and Courtney Mathewson each got one.
The U.S. women face Australia in the semi-final on Tuesday, August 7.
