Australia and USA teams meet again

The Australian and USA teams are currently based on the Sunshine Coast until March 31 for an extended training camp which includes a two test match series ahead of the FINA World League Intercontinental Tournament in New Zealand next month.

The USA Women are reigning gold medallists at the last two Olympic Games (Rio 2016, London 2012), current World Champions and current World League title holders.

They will be led by 2016 Olympic gold medallists Melissa Seidemann, Rachel Fattal and Kaleigh Gilchrist and they’ll also be joined by 2017 World Champions Gabby Stone, Jamie Neushul and Alys Williams.

They will be coached by Adam Krikorian, USA women’s head coach since 2009.

To view full USA women’s squad, please click here.

Last time Aussie Stingers faced USA was at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Australia were second in their pool standings and beat France 16-2 in the round of 16 to set up a quarter finals showdown with USA after the USA women topped their pool.

In one of the toughest matches of the championships for USA, Australia fought hard with the match locked at nil all after the first quarter.

USA took a 3-nil lead into halftime, a 2-all third quarter provided some hope for the Aussie Stingers, but USA used their world-renowned composure to close out the quarter final 7-5, ending Australia’s run at top spot.

Aussie Stingers were last in camp at Perth in January against the Italian women where the series resulted in a three-nil loss, but head coach Sakis Kechagias blooded some younger players which Australian fans might get to see in action again on the Sunshine Coast.

Six Aussie Stingers players (Bronwen Knox, Alice Williams, Gabi Palm, Abby Andrews, Sophie Milliken and Elle Armit) are Queensland born and bred and will be spurred along by their home crowd to perform well against a quality opposition.

On the men’s side, USA have selected two different squads for their southern hemisphere journey.

Head coach Dejan Udovicic will have a wealth of experience at his disposal with four-time Olympian Jesse Smith leading the way in Australia joined by fellow Olympians, Ben Hallock, Alex Roelse and Alex Bowen.

To view full USA men’s squad, please click here.

The last time these two teams met was also in Australia, at the 2017 FINA Men’s World League Intercontinental Preliminary Tournament on the Gold Coast.

In the preliminaries Aussie Sharks claimed top spot in the six-team competition going through undefeated, including a preliminary 12-8 victory against USA.

USA were ranked second in the competition earning themselves a gold medal match with Australia.

Neck and neck throughout the final, Aussie Sharks kept their early advantage and finished with a 2-1 final quarter to claim the gold medal match 8-6.

Sunshine Coast local and the only Queensland in the Aussie Sharks side is 19 year old goalkeeper Nic Porter aiming to get his first international cap.

To view full Aussie Stingers and Aussie Sharks squads, please click here.

FIRST TEST MATCH

Thursday, March 29
Women: 12:30-2:00pm AEST
Men: 2:30-4:00pm AEST

SECOND TEST MATCH

Friday, March 30
Women: 5:00-6:30pm AEST
Men: 6:30-8:00pm AEST

Tickets are available at the gate for just $5 for adults and $2 for children, alternatively you can watch the test match series live streamed via OVOPlay.