Laguna Beach Water Polo Player Helps U.S. Advance In Holiday Cup

Annika Dries of Laguna Beach scored twice helping the U.S. to a 9-5 victory over Australia tonight in the Holiday Cup women's water polo tournament at Foothill High School in North Tustin.

Jillian Kraus of Santa Ana and Alys Williams of Huntington Beach also scored for the U.S., which improved to 4-0.

The U.S. is the only undefeated team in the six-team round-robin tournament, which concludes play Sunday with three games, including the U.S. facing Greece at 11:30 a.m.

The U.S. pulled ahead 3-2 when Priscilla Orozco scored with less than one second left in the first period. The U.S. led for the rest of the game, increasing its lead to 6-2 at halftime on second-period goals by Dries, Kraus and Lolo Silver.

The U.S. increased its lead to 8-3 entering the fourth quarter as Maggie Steffens and Williams scored in the third period.

Kiley Neushul scored the lone U.S. fourth-period goal.

Kami Craig and Melissa Seidemann also scored for the U.S. in the first period.

U.S. goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong made nine saves.

The U.S. is the world's top-ranked women's water polo team in rankings compiled by FINA, the worldwide governing body for aquatics. Australia is ranked fourth. It is 1-3 in the tournament.

In today's other games, Russia defeated previously undefeated Greece, 13- 9, and the Netherlands defeated Canada, 10-5.

Sunday's play will begin at 9 a.m. with a game between Russia and the Netherlands, followed at 10:15 a.m. by Canada facing Australia. --City News Service