The U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team won its sixth straight international tournament with a gold-medal finish at the first-ever FINA Women’s World League Super Finals, June 23-27 in Long Beach, Calif. The tournament featured all eight of the teams that will participate in this year’s Olympic Games. Team USA’s penalty shootout win over Hungary in the final was taken in by more than 3,000 spectators. The U.S. has captured first place in each international tournament it has hosted since missing out on the top spot at the 2002 U.S. Cup in Chicago, Ill.

The U.S. women’s water polo roster includes: Robin Beauregard (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Margaret Dingeldein (Merced, Calif.), Gabrielle Domanic (Santa Ana, Calif.), Ellen Estes (Novato, Calif.),
Jacqueline Frank (Long  Beach, Calif.), Natalie Golda (La Habra, Calif.), Ericka Lorenz (San Diego, Calif.), Heather Moody (Green River, Wyo.), Thalia Munro (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Nicolle Payne (Cerritos, Calif.), Heather Petri (Orinda, Calif.), Kelly Rulon (San Diego, Calif.), Amber Stachowski (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Brenda Villa (Commerce, Calif.).

U.S. Women’s Softball placed second on the Team of the Month ballot. Traveling across 11 cities and nine states, the USA Women’s Softball Team dominated its opponents during June, posting a 14-0 record along the ‘Aiming for Athens’ tour. Outscoring opponents 117-2, the two-time defending gold medal-winning team played in a series of exhibitions against collegiate all-stars from across the country.

Averaging 8.35 runs per game, five of the 14 contests ended after five innings in mercy rule victories, while the pitching staff stifled hitters with a 0.00 team ERA. In 88 innings pitched, they allowed just two runs (unearned) and 24 hits, two of which were for extra bases. The staff totaled 157 strikeouts (1.78 per inning) and tallied one perfect game (Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) on June 7) and one no-hitter (Finch and Lori Harrigan (Las Vegas, Nev.) on June 30). From the plate, the team collected a .408 batting average with 17 total home runs and a .665 slugging percentage.

Taking third on the ballot was USA Paralympic Rugby. The squad competed at the 2004 North America Cup on June 21-22 in Birmingham, Ala. and swept its opponents 5-0 (Canada, Germany, Great Britain). Rugby’s five wins helped the U.S. delegation (which also included men’s and women’s basketball) earn the second annual North America Cup and returned the NAC trophy to Birmingham. On June 23, USA Paralympic Rugby flew cross-country to compete at the inaugural Canada Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This competition featured only wheelchair rugby, and would determine final seedings for the 2004 Paralympic Games. Team USA entered as the No. 2 seed, but would not be happy unless it returned home with the top seed for Athens and the Canada Cup Trophy. Playing with focus and cause, the squad was able to win each of its seven games during three days of grueling competition featuring Belgium, Canada, Germany, Great Britain and the United States, all of whom are qualified for the 2004
Paralympic Games.

Results (first place votes in parentheses)

TEAM
1. U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team 29 (7)
2. U.S. Women’s Softball Team 19 (3)
3. USA Paralympic Rugby 17 (2)

Also receiving first place votes: U.S. Paralympic Basketball, Men’s Inline Hockey Team USA, USA Baseball National Team, and Justin and Troy Dumais