Torrance, CA - April 27 - The USA Women's National Team beat China 11-7 tonight at Torrance Aquatic Center to conclude a three-game exhibition series. Team captain
Maggie Steffens notched a hat trick as
Rachel Fattal and
Ryann Neushul each added a pair of goals while goalkeeper
Ashleigh Johnson recorded nine saves in the cage.
The opening quarter brought locked in defensive efforts both ways. The lone goal in the first was Steffens converting a penalty shot to put Team USA ahead 1-0 after one.
In the second period,
Jenna Flynn started things off by beating everyone down the pool for a counter attack goal. China got a response from Jing Zhang before Neushul doubled the lead. Midway through the second, Dunhan Xiong scored for China followed by Siya Yan and then Steffens,
Maddie Musselman, and
Jordan Raney found the back of the net to leave Team USA with a 6-3 halftime edge.
The United States came out of the break strong and put away four consecutive goals to widen the gap.
Kaleigh Gilchrist, Fattal, Neushul, and Steffens pushed the lead to seven before Xiao Chen deposited a pair of goals for China. Fattal scored her second of the day on the last possession of the quarter and Team USA led 11-5 heading to the fourth.
The final frame saw the defenses pick up again as no goals were scored for four minutes. China got a couple scores from Yan and Chen down the stretch but could not equalize and the Americans held on for an 11-7 victory.
Team USA went 0/2 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while China went 1/8 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 11 (1, 5, 5, 0) M. Steffens 3, R. Fattal 2, R. Neushul 2, M. Musselman 1, J. Flynn 1, J. Raney 1, K. Gilchrist 1
CHN 7 (0, 3, 2, 2) X. Chen 3, J. Yan 2, S. Yan 1, D. Xiong 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 9 - CHN - W. Dong 7
6x5 - USA - 0/2 - CHN - 1/8
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - CHN 0/1
