GWANGJU, South Korea – A pair of hat tricks from Madison Berggren and Jamie Neushul and some lockdown defensive work propelled the United States to its biggest win of the 2015 World University Games, an 11-2 rout of China on Friday in Gwangju, South Korea.
With the win, Team USA advances to face Hungary for fifth place on Saturday, July 11th at 10:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. PT; Friday, July 10). Earlier this week, the United States defeated Hungary on Tuesday, 10-8, behind a six-goal outburst from Neushul.
The United States raced out to a 3-0 lead through the first eight minutes on goals from Dani Jackovich (6:58), Kat Klass (3:06) and Neushul (1:23). Team USA converted three of its seven shots in the quarter while Cassie Wyckoff (Indiana) stopped all five she faced.
Yu Deng, who scored both of China’s goals, put home her first with 4:56 to go in the second quarter before Natalie Chun scored her first two goals of the tournament to put Team USA up 5-1 at halftime. Lin Lin was excluded at 4:38 and Jordan Raney set up Chun for her first at 4:19.
Less than two minutes later, a Huan Wang shot was blocked leading to Cassidy Papa assisting Chun on her second score at 2:33.
Deng started the third quarter with a goal for China (7:10), but the United States would be responsible for the final six times the ball saw the back of the cage on Friday.
Korean school kids showed up to cheer for us. And interviewed Lee @SU_SportsMed for their class. Only at @WUGUSA. pic.twitter.com/TOsPdEWwhl
— Stanford Water Polo (@Stanfordh2opolo) July 10, 2015
Berggren scored her first of three second-half goals at 6:08, Neushul converted another from center tank thanks to Papa at 4:28 and fired home her third unassisted at 1:34.
Three more goals came for the U.S. in the final frame, two from Berggren (5:44 and 2:29) and one from Katie Dudley with 3:17 to go.
China’s two goals tied a tournament low. Italy beat France 5-2 in the preliminary round on July 3.
Wyckoff played the entire game in the cage for the United States and made 13 saves.
Stanford vs. China
July 10, 2015 • Gwangju, South Korea
CHN 0 – 1 – 1 – 0 = 2
STAN 3 – 2 – 3 – 3 = 11
China Goals: Yu Deng 2
China Saves: Shen Yineng 4, Rujina Yang 2
Stanford Goals: Madison Berggren 3, Jamie Neushul 3, Natalie Chun 2, Katie Dudley, Dani Jackovich, Kat Klass
Stanford Saves: Cassie Wyckoff 13