Laguna Beach Water Polo Star Takes Women's Team To Victory

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Aria Fischer, a Laguna Beach High School senior and 0lympic gold medalist, was among four players on the U.S. women's water polo team scoring twice Wednesday in a 10-5 victory over China in the FINA Women's Intercontinental Tournament at UC Davis.

The U.S. scored the first five goals and led 6-1 at halftime and 8-2 entering the fourth quarter to improve to 2-0 in the six-team tournament, the team's first competition since winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

The victory was the 24th straight for the U.S. dating back to 2016 when it was 40-2.

Fischer is a senior at Laguna Beach High School and among three Orange County high schoolers on the 13-player roster. Defender Bayley Weber, a junior at Los Alamitos High School, assisted on Abbi Hill's second-quarter goal that gave the U.S. a 4-0 lead.

The third Orange County high schooler, goalkeeper Thea Walsh, did not play. The Laguna Beach High School junior made seven saves as the U.S. opened the tournament with a 12-7 victory over Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Defender Melissa Seidemann, the only other member of the 2016 Olympic team on the team for the tournament, also scored twice.

The U.S. was scoreless on its four power-play opportunities. Fisher scored on the lone U.S. penalty shot.
China scored on one of its six power-play opportunities and made both its penalty shots.

U.S. coach Adam Krikorian was limited in his selection of the team because the tournament takes place during the NCAA women's water polo season, leaving several players with national team experience unavailable for selection.

The tournament's top four finishers qualify for the FINA World League Super Final.
The U.S. will play daily through Sunday.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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