Musselman Named 2019 FINA World League Super Final MVP
June 10, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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BUDAPEST, Hungary -- UCLA's Maddie Musselman led Team USA to a 10-9 win over Italy on June 10 in the title game of the 2019 FINA World League Super Final. It was the Americans sixth straight title at the event, which qualified Team USA for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Musselman scored the eventual game-winning goal with a lob shot over the Italian keeper, for her second goal of the contest. She was named the MVP of the World League Super Final after scoring at least two goals in all six games for a total of 14 in the tournament. An attacker with Team USA, she tied for the team lead with two goals in an opening round 12-9 win over the hosts, Hungary. She then dominated with four goals in a 15-4 win over Canada. She added two more scores in a 12-7 win over Russia and in a 21-6 win over China, as the team advanced to the semifinals. She scored the eventual game-winning goal in the third period, leading Team USA to an 8-6 win over the Netherlands to reach the championship game.
Team USA also features Bruins Adam Krikorian (head coach), Chris Lee (staff), Rachel Fattal (attacker), and Alys Williams (defender).
Fattal scored in all but one of the games for a total of seven goals. Tallied her tournament high of two goals in wins over Russia and China.Williams, a defender, contributed four scores in the tournament including one each in wins over Hungary, Canada, China and the Netherlands.
UCLA's Bronte Halligan was also in competition at the FINA World League Super Final with the Senior Women's
National Team of Australia. The Aussies placed fifth with Halligan scoring a total of six goals. She scored at least one goal in four of the six games, including a tournament-high two scores in a 10-8 win over China and in a 12-7 win over Hungary in the fifth-place game.
