Women’s Water Polo: Team USA beats Italy in Holiday Cup opener

Playing back at her home pool, former Corona del Mar High star Maddie Musselman had two goals and an assist as the U.S. senior women’s national team beat Italy, 9-4, in its first game of the Holiday Cup on Tuesday night at CdM.

Kaleigh Gilchrist, the former Newport Harbor and USC standout, had three assists for Team USA, the top-ranked team in the world.

Rachel Fattal and Kami Craig also scored twice for Team USA. Ashleigh Johnson made 12 saves for the Americans, who led, 4-1, at halftime.

Team USA continues round-robin Holiday Cup play on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., when it faces the Netherlands at CdM. The Netherlands is the No. 2 team in the world and the teams met in the FINA World Championships gold-medal match in August, with the United States winning, 5-4, in Russia.

Spain beat the Netherlands, 10-9, in another first-day game at the Holiday Cup.

The six-day tournament continues at Corona del Mar High through Sunday. Other games at CdM this week include the Team USA men against Croatia at 8 p.m. Thursday, and the Battle of the Bay girls’ high school game between rivals CdM and Newport Harbor at 5 p.m. Friday.

— Matt Szabo