Friday, July 28, 2023

WATER POLO USA Women Claim Fifth At World Championships Following Shootout Victory Over Hungary


 

Fukuoka, Japan - July 28 - The Women's National Team finished strong at the World Aquatics World Championships, defeating Hungary 15-13 in a shootout to claim fifth place. Jordan Raney scored three times in regulation and added the clinching goal in the shootout. Amanda Longan recorded 10 saves in regulation with Ashleigh Johnson adding a block in the penalty shootout. Team USA finishes 5-1 picking up victories over China, Australia, France, Canada and Hungary. Following the match, Maddie Musselman was recognized as the World Aquatics Women's Water Polo Athlete of the Year for 2022 as she helped lead the United States to a fourth straight world title in Budapest, Hungary.

Team USA started off solidly opening a 3-0 lead in the first period behind goals from Musselman, Raney and Jewel Roemer. Hungary scored two of the next three and cut the deficit to 4-2 after one. Hungary kept the pressure on, delivering two straight goals to start the second quarter, tying the match at 4-4 with 6:11 to play. There were no other goals scored until Dora Leimeter connected in close to give Hungary their first lead at 5-4 with 1:14 left in the first half. Team USA got their lone goal in the quarter with less than thirty seconds to play as Rachel Fattal hit on the power play for a 5-5 match at intermission.

Team USA took back control of the match early in the second after Raney and Jovana Sekulic connected to make it 7-5 with 4:37 to go in the quarter. Hungary would not relent and they kept chipping away until Rita Keszthelyi scored one of her four goals on the day to tie the match at 8-8. Ryann Neushul and Musselman responded with goals for a 10-8 edge with :52 to go in the quarter. Hungary had the final word making it a one-goal game going to the fourth. Raney scored on a power play to start the fourth giving Team USA an 11-9 lead. Again Hungary battled back scoring two straight, the last coming from Kamila Farago with about two-minutes to play for a tie at 11-11. Each side had opportunities in the final moments but regulation ended in a tie, leading to the shootout.

The shootout couldn't have started better for Team USA. Hungary missed on their first shot and had their second blocked by Johnson. In the meantime, Neushul and Jenna Flynn converted for a two goal edge. Hungary started to make their shots but the math wasn't in their favor as Steffens and Raney hit on Team USA's following shots to secure the victory.

The United States went 6/11 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties in regulation while Hungary was 3/8 on power plays with no penalties attempted.

Scoring - Stats

USA 15 (4, 1, 5, 1) (4) J. Raney 3, M. Musselman 2, J. Roemer 2, J. Sekulic 1, R. Fattal 1, M. Steffens 1, R. Neushul 1

HUN 13 (2, 3, 4, 2) (2) R. Keszthelyi 4, Z. Mate 2, D. Szilagyi 1, R. Parkes 1, K. Garda 1, K. Farago 1, D. Leimeter 1

Saves - USA - A. Longan 10 - HUN - A. Magyari 11

6x5 - USA - 6/11 - HUN - 3/8

Penalties - USA - 2/2 - HUN - 0/0

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