Rotterdam, Netherlands - May 3 - The USA Women's National Team secured a spot at the World Cup Final with a 28-8 win over Japan earlier today in Division 1 action. Emily Ausmus, Ryann Neushul and Jovana Sekulic all scored five goals in the win with Amanda Longan and Isabel Williams combining for seven saves in net. The win gave Team USA second place in their group with the top two teams in each group earning spots to the eight team final this July in Sydney, Australia. Team USA continues play tomorrow in the battle for first place in Rotterdam when they take on the Netherlands at 9:30am pt. Live streaming is available on the World Aquatics website and live statistics is available on Microplus Timing Services.

Team USA came out firing, opening up a 3-0 lead behind consecutive scores from Neushul and a tally from Ausmus. Ausmus would add another in the period along with two from Sekulic to go in front 6-2 after one. An Ausmus goal with 5:33 to go in the second period gave the United States a 10-2 lead as they took control of the match. Sekulic would close the scoring in the half with two straight goals for a 15-3 lead at halftime.

The United States kept the offense humming with a 7-1 margin in the third quarter to lead 22-4 going to the fourth. Japan delivered four goals in the fourth but the United States was ready with six more scores to cruise to the 28-8 victory. Team USA went 5/5 on power plays and 4/4 on penalties while Japan went 0/2 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 28 (6, 9, 7, 6) R. Neushul 5, J. Sekulic 5, E. Ausmus 5, E. Woodhead 4, J. Roemer 3, A. Stryker 2, T. Prentice 1, P. Hauschild 1, J. Flynn 1, R. Fattal 1
JPN 8 (2, 1, 1, 4) E. Ura 3, A. Inabe 2, E. Kitamura 1, F. Nishiyama 1, K. Kawaguchi 1
Saves - USA - A. Longan 6, I. Williams 3 - JPN - H. Miyagawa 2, H. Inaba 1
6x5 - USA - 5/5 - JPN 0/2
Penalties - USA - 4/4  - JPN 2/3