WATER POLO USA Women Headed To Semifinals After Defensive Minded Win Over Hungary 5-4

 

Paris, France - August 6 - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team will return to the semifinals at the Olympic Games following a hard-fought 5-4 win over Hungary. The victory continues Team USA's streak of finishing in the top four at every Olympic Games to ever feature women's water polo dating back to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Defense led the way as Ashleigh Johnson stacked up 17 saves in the win while Maggie Steffens delivered two important goals while playing every minute of the match. The lowest scoring game thus far in the women's competition in Paris saw Team USA hold Hungary to just a 1/7 conversion rate on power plays. The United States now advances to the semifinals to meet Australia on Thursday at 7:35pm local time/1:35pm et/10:35am pt. The match will air LIVE on USA Network with streaming on Peacock. Click here for more overall broadcast details. Click here for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games.

The two teams spent the opening minutes in this match locked in a stalemate until Hungary broke through with the first score at the 3:16 mark. With 2:08 to play it was Steffens delivering her first of the night, leveling the score at 1-1. Hungary got free moments later after a USA turnover and went in front 2-1 after one. The second quarter was similar, with no offense through the first half of the period. Tara Prentice changed that for Team USA, popping free for the score in front for a 2-2 match. Then with just :32 left in the half it was Jewel Roemer giving Team USA their first lead of the night at 3-2 going into the break. All throughout the first half, Johnson made a variety of critical blocks, quickly reaching double figures in saves.

Hungary hung tough in the third, tying the game in the opening two minutes. With under five minutes to play Steffens came calling again, striking on a power play for a 4-3 edge. Hungary had the final word on offense in the period, burying a power play goal with 3:34 to go, tying the match at 4-4 with action headed to the fourth. Much like the first and second quarters, the fourth opened with each team desperately trying to find a crack in the defense of their opposition. Finally, with 3:02 to play, it was Rachel Fattal drilling the power play strike and eventual game-winner, giving Team USA a 5-4 lead. Hungary looked to keep the pressure up late but after going into a 7-on-6 formation, their goalkeeper was excluded, allowing Team USA to run out the clock and secure the win.

Team USA went 3/11 on power plays while Hungary went 1/7 on power plays with neither side attempting a penalty. 

Scoring - Stats

USA 5 (1, 2, 1, 1) M. Steffens 2, T. Prentice 1, R. Fattal 1, J. Roemer 1

HUN 4 (2, 0, 2, 0) K. Garda 1, K. Farago 1, D. Leimeter 1, R. Keszthelyi 1

Saves - USA - A. Johnson 17 - HUN - A. Magyari 7

6x5 - USA - 3/11 - HUN 1/7

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