STANFORD, Calif. – Four Cardinal won gold with the United States at the FINA Women's Intercontinental Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. Alumnae Jamie Neushul, Melissa Seidemann and Gabby Stone along with incoming freshman Ryann Neushul led the U.S. to its third title at the event with a 10-7 victory over Australia on Saturday.
The U.S., which lost to the Australians 9-8 to open the week on April 2, avenged that defeat, reeled off five consecutive wins and capped it off with the three-goal triumph in the rematch.
The elder Neushul averaged 2.50 goals per game in the six matches (15 total), including a United States tournament-high six in a 16-9 win over Japan on April 5. Neushul had another hat trick the next day in a 16-11 win over Canada to send the U.S. to the championship. She scored once in the opener against Australia, three times against New Zealand on April 3 and twice against Kazakhstan on April 4.
Seidemann accounted for a pair of her team's goals in the championship on April 7 and eight total in the tournament. She had a hat trick in the 24-2 win over New Zealand, one in the 13-6 victory against Kazakhstan and another two in the game against Japan.
Ryann Neushul, who signed with Stanford in November and will be a freshman on campus in the fall, found the back of the cage five times. She put in a pair against New Zealand and then scored once in each of the final three games (Japan, Canada, Australia).
Gabby Stone was the United States' primary keeper and made 37 saves. She featured in every game except the 24-2 win over New Zealand and had a 10-stop performance against Canada on Friday. Stone also made six saves in each of the games against Australia, seven against Kazakhstan and eight against Japan.
The USA currently holds every major title in women's international water polo including the Olympic Games, FINA World Championship, FINA World Cup and FINA World League.