Elena Pirozhkova of the USA battles Madzina Sidakova of Belarus at 63 kg at Women's World Cup in Mongolia. Pirozkhova won the match by fall. Ikuo Higuchi photo

ULANBAATOR, Mongolia – The United States went 2-1 in their Pool A competition at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday, placing them in the third-place match against Japan on Sunday.

Team USA opened with a 7-0 shutout win over Kazakhstan. In round two, China defeated the USA, 5-2. The USA closed out the day with another 7-0 shutout victory over Belarus.

China went a perfect 3-0 in Pool A, and advanced to the championship finals match against the Pool B winner, host Mongolia.

Two U.S. athletes went a perfect 3-0 for the day on Saturday: 2012 World champion Elena Pirozkhova at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 2012 World bronze medalist Helen Maroulis at 55 kg/121 lbs.

The other five members of Team USA had strong 2-1 records on the day.

Against Kazakhstan, two U.S. wrestlers earned falls, Veronica Carlson at 67 kg and Brittney Roberts at 72 kg.

The USA had three pins in the dual against Belarus, from Pirozhkova and Carlson, plus 2012 World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

Rounding out the medal matches on Sunday will be the fifth-place bout between Belarus and India, and the seventh-place bout featuring Canada and Kazakhstan.

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
At Ulan Baator, Mongolia, March 2

U.S. DUAL MEETS – GROUP A

UNITED STATES 7, KAZAKHSTAN 0
48 kg – Alyssa Lampe (USA) dec. Zulfiya Yakhyarova (Kazakhstan). 3-0, 6-0
51 kg – Jessica Medina (USA) dec. Tatyana Amanzhol –Bakatyuk  (Kazakhstan). 1-0, 4-2
55 kg – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Akziya Dautbayeva (Kazakhstan). 1-0, 2-0
59 kg – Ali Ragan (USA) dec. Lyudmila Mironova (Kazakhstan). 2-0, 2-0
63 kg – Elena Pirozkhova(USA) dec. Darya Khamdiyeva (Kazakhstan). 2-0, 2-0
67 kg – Veronica Carlson (USA) pin  Zarina Kunangarayeva (Kazakhstan). 1-0, Fall
72 kg – Brittney Roberts (USA) pin Elmira Syzdykova (Kazakhstan). 0-1, 3-1, Fall

CHINA 5, UNITED STATES 2
48 kg - Yunan Sun (China) dec. Alyssa Lampe (USA) 2-3, 1-1, 1-4
51 kg - Li Shuang (China)  tech. fall Jessica Medina (USA) 6-0, 6-0
55 kg – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Wengping Cong (China) 1-0, 3-0
59 kg - Li Hui (China) dec. Ali Ragan (USA) 3-1, 5-0
63 kg – Elena Pirozhkova (USA) dec. Zhou Zhanging (China) 3-2, 3-0
67 kg - Xu Haiyan (China) dec. Veronica Carlson (USA) 3-2, 1-1
72 kg - Zhang Fengliu (China) dec. Brittney Roberts (USA) 6-0, 5-0

UNITED STATES 7, BELARUS 0
48 kg – Alyssa Lampe (USA) pin Alina Ryzhova (Belarus), Fall
51 kg – Jessica Medina (USA) dec. Iryna Kurachkina (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0
55 kg – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Katsiaryna Hanchar (Belarus),  4-3, 4-3
59 kg – Alli Ragan (USA) dec.  Nadzeya Mikhalkova (Belarus), 1-0, 1-0
63 kg – Elena Pirozkhova (USA) pin Madzina Sidakova (Belarus), 6-0, Fall
67 kg – Veronica Carlson (USA) pin Krystsina Fedarashka (Belarus), 6-0, Fall
72 kg – Brittney Roberts (USA) dec. Halina Leuchanka (Belarus), 1-0, 2-0

Other Group A dual meets
China 7, Belarus 0
Belarus 5, Kazakhstan 2
China 6, Kazakhstan 1

Group B dual meets
Japan 5, India 2
Mongolia 4 Canada 3
Japan 5, Canada 2
Mongolia 5, India 2
Mongolia 4, Japan 3
India 4, Canada 3

Medal Match Pairings for Sunday
Championship Finals - China vs Mongolia
3rd - USA vs Japan
5th - Belarus vs India 
7th - Canada vs Kazakhstan