The American team proved too strong for their Kazakh opponents, emerging with a confident 12-7 victory at the Schaal Aquatic Center at the University of California, Davis.

Melissa Seidemann and Aria Fischer were the star performers for the reigning world champions as they both scored four, while Alexandra Thomason, Jewel Roemer,  Abrielle Hill and Paige Hauschild also found the net.

"It's a start for us," United States head coach Adam Krikorian said. 

"We have a long way to go and we hope to get better each game. 

"We have a lot of young players that need to learn a lot in a short period of time.

"The beauty is in the details. 

"I wouldn't expect them to know all the little things that make big things happen.

"But this is why they're here. 

"This is a great experience and I hope they learn a tonne."

Elsewhere on the opening day of the competition in California, Australia swept aside China with a 13-6 success in the first match of the tournament.

Rowie Webster was in fine scoring form as she netted five goals, with Keesja Gofers chipping in with a hat-trick.

Elle Armit, Isobel Bishop and Bridget Leeson-Smith were the other scorers for Australia, whose men won the corresponding Intercontinental Tournament on Sunday (April 30).

"We had, I think, six debutantes; this was their first international," said Webster. 

"We knew if we had a good start, we could give some water time to the young girls, which is really nice."

In the other match to take place today, Japan beat Canada 13-8.