Women’s Water Polo: Gilchrist, Musselman shine for Team USA

Newport Harbor High product Kaleigh Gilchrist and Corona del Mar High sophomore Maddie Musselman are among the athletes playing for the U.S. senior national women’s water polo team this week at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament at Riverside City College.

Team USA has started 2-0 in the tournament in Group A. The Americans beat Japan, 14-5, on Tuesday before topping Kazakhstan, 16-5, on Wednesday.

Gilchrist, who recently graduated from USC after helping the Trojans finish third at the NCAA Championships, scored twice in the win over Japan. Musselman added a goal. Gilchrist added two more goals in the victory over Kazakhstan, and Musselman also scored.

Musselman is the youngest player on the team. She is one of just two high school players along with Makenzie Fischer of Laguna Beach. Team USA also has UC Irvine women’s water polo coach Dan Klatt as an assistant coach.

The U.S. finishes out group play against Canada on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The tournament continues through Sunday, with the championship match scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

— From staff reports