(Photo credit: François Laplante, Freestyle Photography)

BELGRADE, Serbia - Canada was no match for China Thursday evening in the semi-final round of the first-ever Summer Universiade women's water polo tournament, being outscored 6-1 in each of the first two quarters en route to a 16-7 loss.

Summer Universiade website: www.universiade-belgrade2009.org
Team Canada website: www.universitysport.ca/belgrade

The Canadian women (3-2) still have a chance at a medal Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Belgrade time when they face Russia (3-1) for bronze. The Russians, who defeated the red and white 13-7 in pool play on July 5, lost 11-9 to Hungary in the other semi.

The Canucks got two goals apiece from Saara Majuiri of Coquitlam, B.C., team captain Stéphanie Valin of Pointe-Claire, Que., and Kerry Kaukinen of North Vancouver. Joannie Morisseau of Montreal added a single.

China scored three goals, including one with a man advantage, in the first six and a half minutes of the opening quarter before Valin found the top corner of the Chinese net with 3:12 left to play.

"We knew that China was a very good team, but we cannot go into the water scared," said Canadian head coach Guyla Toth of Calgary. "China is stronger and faster, but our girls didn't fight. We let them play and score too easily."

The lead exploded to 6-1 by the end of the first, and then 8-1 just minutes into the second stanza.

Morisseau notched her lone tally just one minute after the eighth Chinese goal, but it did not deter their opponents as China added five more, including a penalty shot and another power play marker, to stake their lead to 12-2 at halftime.

After the break Canada scored two straight, Valin's second of the match on a long range drop shot, and then Majuri's first of the night, before China rounded out the third quarter scoring with a buzzer beater off the post and in from half.

Canada kept pace with China in the second half, with Kaukinen's two goals book-ending Majuri's second, but the damage had long been done.

Ao Gao scored five goals for the Chinese, Ya Ting Sun, Yi Wang and Huan Huan Ma each recorded hat tricks, while Jin He and Lei Ying Qiao added singles.

"If we play like we did in the first half today against Russia, then we will lose," said Toth. "But, if we play like we did in the second half in the bronze medal game, then we will be successful."

STAT SUMMARY

Boxscore: http://results.ub2009.org/results/ENG/WP/WPR173A_WP1400S0200018ENG.htm

CHN 6-6-2-2: 16
CAN 1-1-2-3: 7

Canada
Goals: Stéphanie Valin (2), Saara Majuri (2), Kerry Kaukinen (2), Joannie Morisseau (1)
Goalie: Serena Bredin (32 mins, 16 SV)
Shots / Shots on goal: 36/23

China
Goals: Ao Gao (5), Ya Ting Sun (3), Yi Wang (3), Huan Huan Ma (3), Jin He (1), Lei Ying Qiao (1)
Goalie: Jun Wang (16 mins, 2 BC), Ying Wang (16 mins, 5 BC)
Shots / Shots on goal: 31/27

TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE (all times Belgrade time)

July 1: Group A Canada 9, Serbia 3
July 3: Group A Canada 10, Japan 5
July 5: Group A Russia 13, Canada 7
July 7: Quaterfinal Canada 10, Australia 8
July 9: Semi-final: China 16, Canada 7
July 11: 16:30 Bronze Canada vs. Russia

About the Summer Universiade

The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years, and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors between the ages of 17 and 28 in the year of the Games who are full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.

-CIS-