The match will re-air later today at 7pm et/4pm pt on Universal Sports. Team USA now moves on to the gold medal match against the Netherlands on Friday at 10pm local time/3pm et/12pm pt. The match will stream live on UniversalSports.com and air on delay on Universal Sports at 8pm et/5pm pt.
Team USA got off to a quick start on a goal from Kami Craig (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara) in the opening minute for a 1-0 lead. Australia responded roughly three minutes later on a Keesja Gofers power play strike for a 1-1 match.
Not long after, Australia took their first lead of the match on a score from Holly Lincoln-Smith only to see Maddie Musselman (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar HS/CdM Aquatics) even the score moments later at 2-2.
Early in the second Nicola Zagame broke the tie with a score and a 3-2 lead for the Aussies. Team USA answered the call once more with a goal from Steffens and a counter attack strike from Makenzie Fischer (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach HS/SET) to grab a 4-3 lead with 5:07 to play in the first half.
Australia didn’t fade away rattling off two straight goals to go back in front by one at 5-4 with 2:51to play. Fattal came through with a clutch goal beating the buzzer to end the first half and the match was level once more, this time at 5-5 at intermission.
After a high scoring first half the third quarter turned into a defensive showdown with just one goal scored. It came from Steffens early in the period, after an Australia turnover, pushing Team USA ahead 6-5 going to the fourth.
The United States took control in the final eight minutes. Fattal scored her second of the day just thirty seconds into the period for a 7-5 lead
ref:swimswan
