Armstrong Backstops Team USA to Pam Am Gold
10/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Oct. 20, 2011
Former Wolverine standout and NCAA All-American and current United States National Team goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (2002-05) competed at the 2011 Pan American Games, held Oct. 23-29 at the Scotiabank Aquatics Center in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Each roster consisted of 13 athletes. The winner of each tournament qualified to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
In Group B, Team USA came out on top to earn the Olympic berth.
ARMSTRONG'S GAME-BY-GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Oct. 23, 2011
Betsey Armstrong recorded four saves to help lead USA Women's Water Polo over Argentina, 20-0, to open the 2011 Pan American Games. Armstrong, along with fellow goal keeper Tumua Anae, combined in the cage for 10 stops. USA will continue group play against Puerto Rico (Oct. 24).
• USA Women Defeat Argentina 20-0 to Open Pan American Games (usawaterpolo.org)
Oct. 24, 2011
On day two of the 2011 Pan American Games, Betsey Armstrong posted two saves from four shot attempts to help lead USA over Puerto Rico, 24-4. Armstrong, in her second straight start of the tournament, played 16 minutes. Next, Team USA will play Cuba (Oct. 25).
• USA Women Down Puerto Rico 24-4 on Day Two of Pan American Games (usawaterpolo.org)
Oct. 25, 2011
With more than 23 minutes of playing time, Betsey Armstrong recorded eight saves to help lift USA over Cuba, 19-3. Team USA will face Brazil (Oct. 26) in the semifinals.
• USA Women Advance to Semifinals of Pan American Games with 19-3 Win Over Cuba (usawaterpolo.org)
Oct. 26, 2011
Betsey Armstrong played an estimated 32 minutes to help carry USA to the gold medal match with a 13-1 victory over Brazil. Armstrong recorded four saves on five shots, giving up one from five meters out.
• USA Women Will Play for Gold at 2011 Pan American Games Following 13-1 Defeat of Brazil (usawaterpolo.org)
Oct. 28, 2011
Former U-M goal keeper Betsey Armstrong and Team USA won gold at the 2011 Pan Amercan Games to earn a berth to the 2012 Oylmpic Games with a 27-26 win over Canada. Armstrong posted 13 saves in 38 minutes of play. For the entire tourney, Armstrong protected the cage with 31 saves overall.
Q U O T E S
"I'm really just telling myself to focus on the technique and if I see the ball as it is coming at me there is really no reason I shouldn't be able to block it," Betsey Armstrong, USA Goalkeeper.
"It's incredible, it's difficult to play in a game like this, there is a lot of pressure, you can't think too much about it and we knew we'd put everything on the line and we know that Canada is a great team and that there is a great rivalry there, we were just really ready to get that spot," Betsey Armstrong, USA Goalkeeper.
• USA Women Win Pan Ams Gold; Earn Berth to 2012 Olympic Games (usawaterpolo.org)
Armstrong in the News
• Betsey Armstrong's goal is to make waves at Pan Am Games (Detroit Free Press)
• Former All-American Armstrong Featured on National Podcast (The Counter Attack)
Contact: Zena Lewis (734) 763-4423
