Kiwis to clash with Aussie for 9th at Junior Worlds
NEW ZEALAND 12 vs. 9 MEXICO
(3:3, 5:2, 3:4, 1:0)
New Zealand will meet Australia in a classic Trans-Tasman battle for 9th place after beating Mexico 12-9 in Volos on Friday.
TEAM: Grace Tobin (3), Ema Carević (2), Taylor Sheehan, Liana Dance (2), Katie McKenty (1), Sarah Doyle, Emily Nicholson (2), Annabel Harman (1), Jessica Milicich, Ricci Ferigo (1).
New Zealand took on Mexico at the FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships in Volos, Greece on Friday for the classification semifinal for 9th-12th places.
The team line-up prematch in Volos, Greece (photo: @jessmilicich Instagram)
It was goal for goal in the first quarter, with New Zealand’s captain Ema Carević opening proceedings for the Kiwis as a response to the Mexican captain’s goal a minute earlier. A turnover saw Ricci Ferigo fly down the other end of the pool to score a counterattack goal to take the lead 2-1. Mexico leveled, then Annabel Harman slotted a goal from man-up for 3-2. Mexico drew even at 3-3 with 3:32 left on the clock, and the score remained the same for the next three tense minutes until time.
Ema Carević bounces the ball off the water in front of goal agaisnt Mexico (photo: volos2015.com)
The Mexicans dashed ahead 3-4, before a string of Kiwi goals put New Zealand in front 7-4 courtesy of Liana Dance from centre forward, Grace Tobin and Ema Carević on counter attack, and Emily Nicholson who nailed the 5 on 4. Mexico pegged one back and just as the half looked set to end, Nicholson pulled another one out of the bag with one second left on the clock to retain the three goal buffer for 8-5 at halftime.
Liana Dance stretched the lead out to four with an extra player goal early in the championship quarter, before Dominguez scored her third for Mexico in the same fashion for 9-6.
Ricci Ferigo blocks as Jess Milicich lunges for the ball (photo: volos2015.com)
Katie McKenty restored the four-goal buffer for New Zealand with a goal from range, before Mexico closed the gap to two with two man-up goals for 10-8 with 2:35 left in the quarter.
Grace Tobin rises above Mexico's Valeria Sanchez (photo: volos2015.com)
Grace Tobin pushed the margin back out to three with her second counterattack goal of the match for 11-8. Desperate defence from the Kiwis tried to keep Mexico from scoring in their last possession, but the Mexican captain managed to score an extra-player goal with just two seconds left on the clock, and the score sat at 11-9 with one quarter to play.
GOAL: The Kiwis find the back of the net in the late stages of the 12-9 win over Mexico (photo: volos2015.com)
Tobin stepped up again for New Zealand with an early goal from range for a three-goal lead with 7:36 left in the match. An astonishing period of over seven minutes went scoreless as New Zealand held on to win 12-9.
"The first half of the game showed some quick steals and fast breaks down the pool." said Annabel Harman.
Interestingly, four of New Zealand's eight first half goals were from counterattacks. "That was followed by some excellent 5/5 set play with important drives from Katie and Sarah that earnt kickouts." added Harman.
The Kiwis kept Mexico to no goals in the last quarter, and scored one of their own through Tobin.
"We managed to put up a stronger defence, forcing the weakest players to shoot," said captain Carević, "all round a good game and we are excited to playoff for 9th against Australia."
The Australians have had a tough time at World Champs, going down to Canada by three, Italy by one, and Spain by two.
"They have had a really unlucky draw and only lost a few games by a couple; regardless we are going to give 100% in our last game of worlds." said Katie McKenty.
The Kiwis and Aussies met at the 2014 FINA Youth Worlds in Spain, which saw Australia triumph 15-8, but it's anyone's game with the older B95 players having joined since.
