Belden named to all-tournament team

SYDNEY, Australia — Anne Belden, a former Newport Harbor High standout, was named to the all-tournament team after she helped lead the USA women’s senior national team to second-place finish at the Six Nations Tournament held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center.

The U.S. women’s team lost to Australia, 10-8, in the tournament final. The game was a rematch of the famed gold-medal match from 10 years ago in the first Olympics for water polo.

Kami Craig of the Americans was named the tournament MVP, while Brenda Villa and Lolo Silver also joined Belden on the all-tournament team.

Belden scored one goal, on a counterattack that gave Team USA a 3-2 lead going into the second period.

She also had a key assist on a Silver goal that gave the Americans a 7-6 lead in the third.

Belden also starred at UCLA, where she was on four straight NCAA championship teams.

Now the U.S. womens’ team readies for the FINA World Cup starting Tuesday in Christchurch, New Zealand.

— From staff reports