GWANGJU, South Korea – Madison Berggren scored three times and the United States pulled even with Russia twice in the fourth quarter, but Tatiana Zubkova’s goal with 1:57 remaining proved to be the difference as Team USA dropped its quarterfinal match to the Russians, 9-8, at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea on Thursday.
The United States moves to the classification side of the bracket where 5th to 10th place finishes will be determined. Team USA will face China at 10:30 a.m. local time Friday morning (6:30 p.m. PT, Thursday, July 9) with the winner matching up against the winner of the previous game between Japan and Hungary on Saturday, July 11.
Team USA never led in the contest, but tied things up for the third time early in the fourth quarter when Berggren sent one past Anna Ustyukhina from deep (7:34) to make the score 7-7. Valeriia Kolmakova pulled Russia back in front with 4:18 left with a power-play goal on the counter, but Berggren scored against on the United States’ next possession.
The future freshman-to-freshman connection of Kat Klass and Berggren made the score 8-8 with 3:45 remaining following an Evgeniia Abdriziakova exclusion for Russia.
Gabby Stone made one of her six saves on Abdriziakova’s attempt on Russia’s next possession (3:15) and Jordan Raney’s shot nailed the post with 2:43 on the clock before Zubkova broke the deadlock with her third of the day at 1:57 in the fourth.
Berggren’s shot was saved with 1:30 to go and the United States took a timeout with 54 seconds left, but its final two chances were thwarted. Jamie Neushul’s long-distance attempt hit the post (0:41) and Katie Dudley’s shot from center missed with just six ticks left.
Start of quarterfinal game against Russia! #wugusa #gostanford pic.twitter.com/iiHh5jTA5h
— Stanford Water Polo (@Stanfordh2opolo) July 9, 2015
Russia was ahead 2-0 before Klass (1:06) and Berggren (0:13) scored late in the first quarter to tie the game heading into the second. The Russians added three more in the second to pull ahead 5-3 at the break. Neushul’s goal off an assist from Kat Klass at 32 seconds was Team USA’s only goal of the period.
The United States fired home three in the third while holding Russia to two goals. Raney scored off a feed from Berggren (5:32), Sophia Monaghan converted after a Russia exclusion thanks to an assist from Cassidy Papa (4:28) and Shannon Cleary rattled the cage when the teams were at even strength on another pass from Berggren (2:21). Russia led 7-6 heading into the final quarter.
Klass and Berggren each had two assists while Gabby Stone made six saves on 15 shots.
Stanford vs. Russia
July 9, 2015 • Gwangju, South Korea
RUS 2 – 3 – 2 – 2 = 9
STAN 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 = 8
Russia Goals: Tatiana Zubkova 3, Evgeniia Abdriziakova 2, Anastasia Simanovich 2, Valeriia Kolmakova, Tatiana Kovina
Russia Saves: Anna Ustyukhina 11
Stanford Goals: Madison Berggren 3, Shannon Cleary, Kat Klass, Sophia Monaghan, Jamie Neushul, Jordan Raney
Stanford Saves: Gabby Stone 6