STANFORD, Calif. – Six Cardinal powered the United States to its fifth consecutive FINA World League Super Final title in Kunshan, China with an 8-6 victory over the Netherlands in the championship on Saturday.
Field players in alumnae Jamie Neushul, Kiley Neushul, Melissa Seidemann, Maggie Steffens and freshman Aria Fischer combined for 31 of their team's 64 goals (48.4 percent) as the U.S. went a perfect 6-0 at the event to claim its 12th Super Final crown overall. Goalkeeper Gabby Stone played two games in the cage, made 18 saves and posted a 5.50 goals against average in wins over Japan and Russia.
Team USA opened the event with a 14-4 win over Japan on May 28 which featured two goals from Steffens, one each from Seidemann and the Neushul sisters and eight stops from Stone. The next day, Jamie Neushul rattled the cage twice and Seidemann scored again in a 12-5 toppling of Canada. The United States wrapped up group play with a 10-7 victory against Russia on May 20 with two scores from Kiley Neushul and Seidemann, one from Fischer, one from Jamie Neushul, one from Steffens and 10 saves from Stone.
Fischer, Jamie Neushul and Steffens put in a pair of goals apiece in a 12-1 quarterfinal romp over Australia on May 31 and Stanford's Jamie Neushul (2), Kiley Neushul (2), Seidemann (1) and Steffens (1) accounted for six scores in an 8-3 semifinal win against Russia on June 1.
Seidemann had her second multi-goal performance of the tournament in the final against the Netherlands on June 2 and Steffens added her seventh score at the event.
Jamie Neushul and Seidemann tied as the United States' second-leading scorers in Kunshan with eight goals each. Steffens poured in seven, Kiley Neushul five and Fischer three.
Senior Jordan Raney, initially announced to the U.S. roster on May 15, was unable to compete due to injury.