BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The United States kept rolling, Canada picked up a critical victory and Australia suffered its third defeat in as many games as the trio concluded group play at the 2018 FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Final at the Kunshan Sports Centre in Kunshan, China, on Wednesday, May 30.
The United States, which previously topped Japan (14-4 W) and Canada (12-5 W) wrapped up the Group B title by turning back Russia via a 10-7 final score. Former Princeton University goalie Ashleigh Johnson, who stopped six shots in upending Canada on May 29, did not play against Russia.
For Canada, former Indiana University star Shae Fournier scored once as her squad built a 9-1 lead by halftime and rolled to a 13-4 victory over Japan. It marked the fourth goal of the tournament for the former Hoosier who previously notched a pair of markers in a 12-5 loss to the United States on May 29 after putting away one shot in an 11-9 defeat of Russia on May 28.
Courtesy the wins, the United States and Canada finish first and second in Group B with Russia and Japan taking the No. 3 and 4 positions.
In Group A, the trio of former Hartwick College standout Bronwen Knox (one goal) and prior University of Michigan athlete Amy Ridge (three goals) joined with current Wolverines’ star Maddy Steere (one goal) to register five of the Aussies’ nine tallies in a 10-9 loss to Spain.
The defeat marked the third loss for Australia as the team previously fell to the Netherlands (7-5 L) and host China (8-6 L) to finish in fourth place in Group A behind the Netherlands, Spain and China.
The goal marked the third of the tournament for Knox who posted single goals against both the Netherlands and China. Ridge, who did not score against the Netherlands, raised her scoring total to four after previously finding the back of the cage once against China. Steere posted her inaugural strike against Russia.
The results set-up crossover play among the teams on Thursday, May 31, as the United States will face Australia, Canada will take on China, the Netherland meets Japan and Spain battles Russia.
All the games are live streamed on FINA TV.
