Helen Maroulis of the USA controls Chiho Hamada of Japan on the way to a victory at 55 kg in the third-place dual meet at the Women's World Cup. Maroulis went 4-0 for the weekend. Ikuo Higuchi photo

ULAN BAATOR, Mongolia – The United States dropped a tight 4-3 match to Japan in the third-place dual meet to finish fourth at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

The United States jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four bouts, with wins from 2012 World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 2012 World silver medalist Helen Maroulis at 55 kg/121 lbs. and two-time Junior World bronze medalist Alli Ragan at 59 kg/130 lbs.

However, Japan stormed back to capture the final three matches, all by pin, to win the dual meet. The turnaround began at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., when 2012 World University champion Yurika Ito pinned 2012 World champion Elena Pirozkhova. Chiaki Iijima (67 kg) and Hiroe Suzuki (72 kg) followed with pins to give the victory to Japan.

China edged host Mongolia, 4-3 in the championship match to win the Women’s World Cup. It was China’s third Women’s World Cup title in the last four years.

Placing fifth was India, a 5-2 winner over Belarus. Seventh place went to Canada, which dominated Kazakhstan, 6-1 in their medal-match.

Leading the way for the United States during the weekend was Helen Maroulis at 55 kg, who went a perfect 4-0 in her matches over the two days.

Finishing with 3-1 individual records for the United States were Alyssa Lampe at 48 kg, Alli Ragan at 59 kg and Elena Pirozkhkova at 63 kg.

2013 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
At Ulan Baator, Mongolia, March 2-3

THIRD PLACE MATCH

JAPAN 4 UNITED STATES 3
48 kg – Alyssa Lampe (USA) dec. Yuki Irie (Japan) 1-0, 2-0
51 kg – Yu Miyahara (Japan) dec.  Jessica Medina (USA) 0-1, Fall
55 kg – Helen Maroulis (USA) dec. Chiho Hamada (Japan), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0
59 kg – Alli Ragan (USA) dec. Kiwa Sakae (Japan) 3-0, 2-0
63 kg – Yurika Ito (Japan) pin Elena Pirozhkova (USA) Fall
67 kg –Chiaki  Iijima (Japan) pin Veronica Carlson (USA) 1-0, fall
72 kg – Hiroe Suzuki (Japan) pin Brittney Roberts (USA) 1-0, fall

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 MEDAL MATCH RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
CHINA 4, MONGOLIA 3
48 kg – Yanan Sun (China) dec. Enkhjargal Tsogtbazar (Mongolia)
51 kg – Davaachimeg Erkhembayar (Mongolia) dec. Li Shuang (Mongolia)
55 kg – Byambatseren Sundev (Mongolia) dec. Cong Wenping (China)
59 kg – Li Hui (China) dec. Munkhtuya Tungalag (Mongolia)
63 kg – Battsetseg Soronzonbold (Mongolia) pin Zhou Zhangting (China)
67 kg – Xu Haiyan (China) dec. Nasanburmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia)
72 kg – Zhang Fengliu (China) dec. Odonchimeg Badrakh (Mongolia)

FIFTH PLACE MATCH
INDIA 5, BELARUS 2
48 kg – Priyanka Singh (India) dec. Alina Ryzhova (Belarus)
51 kg – Iryna Kurachkina (Belarus) dec. Vinesh (India)\
55 kg – Kumari Babita (India) dec. Katsaiaryna Hanchar (Belarus)
59 kg – Geeta (India) dec. Nadzeya Mikhalkova (Belarus)
63 kg – Anita (India) dec. Madzina Sidakova (Belarus)
67 kg – Kaur Navjot (India) dec. Krystsina Fedarashka (Belarus)
72 kg – Halina Leunchanka (Belarus) pin Jyoti (India)

SEVENTH PLACE MATCH
CANADA 6, KAZAKHSTAN 1
48 kg – Jasmine Mian (Canada) dec. Zulfiya Yakhyarova (Kazakhstan)
51 kg – Jessica MacDonald (Canada) dec. Tatyana Amanzhol-Bakatyuk (Kazakhstan)
55 kg – Brittanee Laverdure (Canada) dec. Akziya Dautbayeva (Kazakhstan)
59 kg – Michelle Fazzari (Canada) dec. Lyudmila Mironova (Kazakhstan)
63 kg – Justine Bouchard (Canada) dec. Darya Khamdiyeva (Kazakhstan)
67 kg – Megan Buydens (Canada) dec. Zarina Kunangarayeva (Kazakhstan)
72 kg – Elmira Syzdykova (Kazakhstan)  dec. Leah Callahan (Canada)

OTHER POOL MATCH RESULTS

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