Americans beat neighbors to the north, edging Canada 7-6 for women’s gold in water polo
By APFriday, July 31, 2009
US women capture gold in water polo
ROME — The United States won its second straight gold medal in women’s water polo at the world championships Friday, beating Canada 7-6 on Kelly Rulon’s penalty shot with 3:42 left.
The Americans have won three of the last four championships at the worlds. They won the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Rulon scored two goals and Elizabeth Armstrong denied Tara Campbell on a blistering shot by with 17 seconds remaining to preserve the victory. Armstrong stopped 11 shots
Canada was backed by four goals from Emily Csikos and strong goaltending from Rachel Riddell, who stopped 12 shots.
Russia won the bronze medal with a 10-9 victory Greece. Evgenia Ivanova scored with two seconds remaining. The goal came after Konstantina Kouteli was sent off for a foul.
Ekaternina Prokofyeva scored three goals for Russia. Alexandra Asimaki and Angeliki Gerolimou had three goals apiece for Greece.
The men’s medal games are Saturday. Spain will face Serbia for the gold, and the U.S. will play defending world champion Croatia for the bronze.
