WATER POLO: USA Women Use Strong Second Half To Defeat China 12-7; Move To 2-0 At Tokyo Olympic Games

Tokyo, Japan - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team got on track in the second half, shrugging off a slow start, to defeat China 12-7 and move to 2-0 in Group B action at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Makenzie Fischer scored three goals in a balanced effort that saw nine different players find the net. Ashleigh Johnson added 7 saves in goal. A replay of the match is available via NBC Sports and can be accessed by clicking here. Team USA returns to action on July 28 against Hungary at 2pm local time/1am eastern/10pm pacific (July 27). The game will air

live on USA Network and stream live on the NBC Sports app by clicking here. The match will replay on NBC Sports Network on July 28 at 8pm et/5pm pt. 

Rachel Fattal opened the scoring early in the first for a 1-0 lead in what would be a high scoring affair. China responded with two straight to give Team USA their first deficit of the tourney at 2-1. After Stephania Haralabidis evened the game at 2-2 moments later, China ran off two more goals in a row to take a 4-2 lead with 2:39 to play in the quarter. Melissa Seidemann and Fattal quickly closed the gap with consecutive scores to tie the match at 4-4 after one.

Makenzie Fischer converted on a power play goal early in the second quarter to give Team USA the lead back, this time at 5-4. There wasn't another goal until 2:46 left in the period when China tied the match at 5-5. Maggie Steffens would score less than a minute later to put Team USA up 6-5. The goal moved Steffens to within four goals of the all-time scoring record in Olympic women's water polo. China had one more response in the first half and the match was deadlocked at 6-6 at the break.

Team USA turned the tide in the third quarter blanking China 3-0, but none of that happened until the 1:46 mark in the period. While the USA defense had done their job, now the offense took control. Paige Hauschild hit to make it 7-6. Aria Fischer scored moments later and then sister Makenzie Fischer closed the period with a tally with just seven seconds left to put Team USA up 9-6 going to the fourth. 

In the fourth quarter it was more of the same as the United States allowed just one goal. Makenzie Fischer scored her third goal of the game for a 10-6 lead. After China got their last goal of the match, the United States put the game away in style. Aria Fischer got a steal on the perimeter and took off on the counter attack before unselfishly dishing off to Kaleigh Gilchrist for the score. Alys Williams closed out the scoring with the final goal with :46 left to seal the match. 

Power plays didn't' play a major role in the match as Team USA went 3/4 on China went 2/4. Neither team attempted a penalty. 

Scoring - Stats
USA 12 (4, 2, 3, 3) M. Fischer 3, R. Fattal 2, M. Seidemann 1, P. Hauschild 1, M. Steffens 1, S. Haralabidis 1, A. Fischer 1, K. Gilchrist 1, A. Williams 1
CHN 7 (4, 2, 0, 1) Zhang Jing 2, Wang Huan 2, Lu Yiwen 1, Niu Guannan 1, Chen Xiao 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 7, CHN Shen Yineng 11
6x5 - USA - 3/4 - CHN 2/4
Penalties - USA - 0/0 - CHN - 0/0