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Brenda Villa of Commerce scored three goals including the game winner in a water polo semifinals against Australia.
Villa's goal with a minute left in the game gave the United States a 9-8 win and moved the U.S. into the gold medal game against the Netherlands. It is the first time the United States women's water polo team has been in an Olympic gold medal game since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
The United States is assured of a medal for the third straight Olympics. No other women's water polo team has medaled in three straight Olympics.
"I liked the way we played, both teams know each other extremely well and I just figured it would be this type of game, said Guy Baker, head coach for the U.S. women's water polo team. "I liked the fourth quarter and how we played and how we were able to overcome losing a three goal lead."
Lauren Wegner of Long Beach left the game in the closing seconds with a fractured right hand.
The gold medal game against the Netherlands is Thursday in Beijing.
"We go back tonight and start preparing for the Netherlands," Baker said. "We had a four-day camp with them at Da Xing when we first arrived in China, so we have spent a little time together. They are playing great, they beat Russia to qualify to get here and they are a very good team under pressure."

Brenda Villa of Commerce scored three goals in the United States' 12-7 win over Russia in women's water polo.
"We knew that they haven't been playing well lately but we wanted to focus on our play," Villa said. "We needed to also focus on our counter-attack and defense. We felt that the game was chaotic but that's how it is when you play the Russians. Really, any day you can beat the Russians is a good day in the office for us."
Patty Cardenas of Commerce added a goal for the United States in the second half.
Russia's Sofya Konukh, who used to play at USC, scored two consecutive goals before halftime.
The United States finished group play with a 2-0-1 record and awaits the result of the match between China and Italy to see who it plays next.
The United States advances to the semifinals and a first-round bye with a China win. If Italy wins, the United States will most likely play the Netherlands in a quarterfinal match.

Brenda Villa of Commerce had two goals and Patty Cardenas, also from Commerce, added a goal in a 9-9 tie against Italy in water polo.
Villa scored one goal in the third quarter and again in the fourth. Her goal in the fourth gave the U.S. a 7-6 lead.
"I thought it was going to be a tight game, a one goal game or a tie and it was exactly that," said U.S. coach Guy Baker. "This game we had more balance in the number of players scoring, we had seven players score nine goals. Overall I thought we played well, after the first quarter we played well enough to win."
Next up for the United States is a match with Russia on Friday. The United States remains in contention for winning Group A.
"We'll prepare for (Russia) exactly the same way we prepare for every game," Baker said. "I'm sure they are going to come to play, while it is great for China to defeat them, it is sad for Russia that they will not be able to move on. I'm sure it will be a great game."

Peter Hudnut (Harvard-Westlake) made the final cut for the U.S. Olympic team. This is Hudnut's first Olympic GAmes. He was an alternate for the 2004 team. Rosters were announced this morning. Here's the release from USA water polo: