American Deanna Rix (left) battles Mongolia’s Tsevegmed Enkhbayar at the World Cup. Photo by Ikuo Higuchi, Japan Wrestling Federation.

NANJING CITY, China â€" The United States women’s freestyle team has stormed into the finals of the World Cup.

The U.S. won 17-of-21 matches on Saturday en route to winning all three of its dual meets in the Group A pool.

The American squad downed Mongolia (6-1), Ukraine (5-2) and Azerbaijan (6-1) to advance to the finals. The U.S. will now face China in Sunday night’s final round.

“I thought our best match was our last match against Azerbaijan â€" we wrestled with some emotion and some spirit,” U.S. Coach Terry Steiner said. “We outfought them in all aspects.

“We have a great opportunity tomorrow against China â€" we will have to step it up yet another few notches.”

Americans Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Tatiana Padilla (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Kelsey Campbell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) and Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) each earned wins against Azerbaijan.

Padilla, a past World bronze medalist, knocked off 2009 World champion Yuliya Ratkevich of Azerbaijan 2-1, 2-1 at 55 kg/121 lbs. Ratkevich won Worlds at 59 kg/130 lbs. last year.

Pirozhkova moved up a weight class to down Zumrud Kurbangajieva at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Kurbangajieva was a European silver medalist last year.

Lampe, Padilla, Rix, Pirozhkova and Bernard earned wins over Ukraine.

Lampe outlasted past Junior World silver medalist Nataliya Pulkovska in three periods. Rix beat Junior World silver medalist Iryna Husyak.

The U.S. opened with a 6-1 win over Mongolia on Saturday morning. Jessica Medina (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), Padilla, Rix, Pirozhkova, Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and Bernard each earned wins for the U.S. in that dual.

The U.S. beat three past World medalists in the win over Mongolia. Bernard defeated 2009 World silver medalist Burmaa Ochirbat at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., Gray downed 2009 World bronze medalist Odonchimeg Badrakh at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Pirozhkova knocked off 2008 World bronze medalist Nasanburmaa Ochirbat at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Gray lost by default against Ukraine after injuring her knee.

Padilla, Rix, Pirozhkova and Bernard each went 3-0 on the day.

Ukraine downed Azerbaijan 6-1 in the first round in Group A. Mongolia edged Azerbaijan 4-3 in the second round. Ukraine beat Mongolia 4-3 in the third round.

In Group B, China opened with a 4-3 win over Japan while Russia edged Canada 4-3. Japan beat Russia 6-1 in the second round while China downed Canada 5-2. China beat Russia 5-2 and Japan beat Canada 6-1 in the third round.

USA 6, AZERBAIJAN 1
48 kg/105.5 lbs. â€" Alyssa Lampe (USA) pinned Marziget Bagomedova, 1st period
51 kg/112.25 lbs. â€" Angela Dorogan (Azerbaijan) def. Jessica Medina, 3-2, pin 2nd period
55 kg/121 lbs. â€" Tatiana Padilla (USA) def. Yuliya Ratkevich, 2-1, 2-1
59 kg/130 lbs. â€" Deanna Rix (USA) def. Katerina Dombrovska, 2-0, 4-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. â€" Kelsey Campbell (USA) dec. Gozal Zutova, 1-1, 1-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. â€" Elena Pirozhkova (USA) dec. Zumrud Kurbangajieva, 3-1, 4-0
72 kg/158.5 lbs. â€" Ali Bernard (USA) dec. Dina Ivanova, 8-5, 2-0

USA 5, UKRAINE 2
48 kg/105.5 lbs. â€" Alyssa Lampe (USA) dec. Nataliya Pulkovska, 0-7, 2-1, 4-2
51 kg/112.25 lbs. â€" Yuliya Blahinya (Ukraine) dec. Jessica Medina, 5-0, 4-3
55 kg/121 lbs. â€" Tatiana Padilla (USA) dec. Iryna Khariv, 2-0, 5-5
59 kg/130 lbs. â€" Deanna Rix (USA) dec. Iryna Husyak, 3-1, 1-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. â€" Elena Pirozhkova (USA) dec. Maryana Kvyatkovska, 2-0, 1-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. â€" Alla Cherkasova (Ukraine) won by injury default over Adeline Gray
72 kg/158.5 lbs. â€" Ali Bernard (USA) dec. Nataliia Palamarchuk, 2-2, pin 2nd period

USA 6, MONGOLIA 1
48 kg/105.5 lbs. â€" Tsogtbazar Enkhjargal (Mongolia) dec. Alyssa Lampe, 0-6, 2-2, 5-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs. â€" Jessica Medina (USA) dec. Davaasukh Otgontsetseg, 0-5, 1-0, 5-0
55 kg/121 lbs. â€" Tatiana Padilla (USA) dec. Altantuya Namsrai, 2-0, 7-1
59 kg/130 lbs. â€" Deanna Rix (USA) dec. Tsevegmed Enkhbayar, 8-0, 2-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. â€" Elena Pirozhkova (USA) dec. Nasanburmaa Ochirbat, 1-0, 1-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. â€" Adeline Gray (USA) pinned Odonchimeg Badrakh, 1st period
72 kg/158.5 lbs. â€" Ali Bernard (USA) dec. Burmaa Ochirbat, 7-0, 1-2, pin third period