WATER POLO: Fast start lifts U.S. past Australia at Junior World Championships

For the first time in five tournament matches, Harvard-Westlake of Studio City junior Ashley Grossman didn't score at the eighth FINA Junior World Championships.

Alemany of Mission Hills graduate Erin Manke is still looking for her first goal for the U.S. women's junior national team.

But with a balanced offensive attack and another strong defensive effort, the Americans continued their roll Thursday in Khanty-Mansisyk, Russia, building a four-goal advantage on 2007 gold medalist Australia in the first six minutes en route to a 9-5 quarterfinal victory.

UCLA signee Emily Greenwood, Stanford-bound Annika Dries and Dos Pueblos of Goleta junior Kiley Neushel each scored twice for the Americans. USC signee Dominique Sardo, UCLA-bound Brooke Martin and Monte Vista of Danville junior Maggie Steffens added goals for the U.S., which received another strong effort in goal from Dos Pueblos senior Sami Hill.

The U.S., which has won four in a row since a 15-11 loss to Russia to open the tournament Sunday, faces a familiar foe in Friday's semifinals in the Netherlands. The Dutch defeated Canada 8-6 in overtime in the quarterfinals.

The Americans, who recorded a 10-4 victory Tuesday over the Netherlands to conclude pool play, have allowed only 16 goals in their past four contests. The U.S. is looking to erase the memory of an 8-7 semifinal loss to China in 2007 in Portugal.

After being shut out of a medal in 2007 -- only the second time in tournament history, the other 1999 in Italy -- the U.S. remains in the hunt for its first gold medal since 2005 in Australia.

Hungary, which defeated the Americans 10-8 in overtime in the 2007 bronze medal match, outlasted Spain 11-9 in overtime to advance to the semifinals. Hungary will take on 2005 silver medalist and tournament host Russia, which defeated Italy 11-6.