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June 11, 2009

Canadian Women improve to 3-0 on day three of the FINA World League Super Final with a thrilling shootout win

It took penalty shots to decide the outcome of the Canada - Greece game today but in the end, Canada took the win 13-12 on day three of the FINA World League Super Final in Kirishi, Russia. Although Canada had already sealed their position at the top of Group B with their win over Australia the day before, this win was important to keep the momentum going.

After losing their first two games of the event, Greece was determined to get a win and came out strong. It was not until two minutes left in the fourth that Joelle Bekhazi (DDO Water Polo Club – Pointe-Claire, Quebec) put Canada ahead for the first time at 7-6. Greece came back to tie things up with only 40 seconds left and that would do it for regulation play. The teams were heading to a shootout. Canada scored all six of their penalty shots while Greece managed only five.

Showing a true team effort, Canada had seven different goal scorers in regulation. The goals were scored by Krystina Alogbo (CAMO – Montreal, Quebec), Katie Monton (DDO Water Polo Club – Dorval, Quebec) , ( Renegades – Calgary, Alberta), Joelle Bekhazi (DDO Water Polo Club – Pointe-Claire, Quebec), (CAMO – Montreal, Quebec) , (DDO Water Polo Club – Lachine, Quebec), and Monika Eggens (Pacific Storm – Vancouver, British Columbia) who scored her first international goal at the senior level. In the shootout, Csikos made good on her two attempts including the game winner and Alogbo, Bekhazi, Tomiuk, and Perreault accounted for the other four shootout goals. (Pacific Storm – Vancouver, British Columbia) and Marissa Janssens (DDO Water Polo Club – Beaconsfield, Quebec) split the goaltending duties today.

“These close games will be excellent preparation for the World Championships this summer,” said head coach Pat Oaten. “It was another character win being behind for 30 out of 32 minutes and not giving up. We need to continue to play good consistent water polo through to the end of the event.”

Team Canada will meet Italy in the crossover game on Friday between Group A and Group B. In other Super Final action today, Australia beat Spain 14-9, China downed Italy 15-6 and and Russia edged the USA 13-12.

Log onto www.waterpolo.ca to follow the results of your Women’s National Team.

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