The Aussie Stingers women's water polo side are building momentum in their quest for gold at the London Olympics.
The Aussie Stingers have continued their great run of form by defeating jetlag and last year's world No.2 China 11-10 in a hard fought FINA World League Preliminary water polo match in Chiba, Japan.
The victory for the Stingers comes off the back of their one-goal defeat of the USA in the London Olympic Games test event final on Sunday. It keeps them on track to realise a team dream of emulating the gold medal winning Australian side from the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
The Chinese led 3-2 at quarter time and maintained a single goal advantage, 7-6, at the main break before the teams entered the last term locked at 8-all.
Rising star Ashleigh Southern slammed home the winner with 1.54 to go in the last period and the Stingers hung on for a confidence boosting victory.
Australian coach Greg McFadden was proud of his team's effort following the long journey from London.
"It was a courageous win given our travel and the fact we were playing without our captain Kate Gynther and Glencora Ralph who were both rested," McFadden said.
"We came back to win from being six-two down during the second quarter. That takes a lot of guts and I am very proud of the girls."
The Australians round out their World League preliminary schedule tomorrow with their place in the FINA World League Super Finals later this month already assured.
