Paris,
France - August 10 - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team earned fourth
place at the Paris Olympic Games following a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to the
Netherlands earlier today. Maddie Musselman, Ryann Neushul and Jenna Flynn all
scored two goals in the loss with Ashleigh Johnson adding 10 saves. The loss
snaps the program's streak of winning a medal in every Olympic Games to offer
women's water polo dating back to 2000. Team USA built a four goal lead in the
second half but couldn't hold off a rally from the Netherlands that saw five
goals in the fourth quarter. Click here
for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games.
Rachel
Fattal delivered the opening salvo in the first quarter putting Team USA up 1-0
at the 6:27 mark. The Netherlands tied it up a few minutes later at 1-1 on the
first of six goals on the day from Sabrina van der Sloot. With just about two
minutes to go in the quarter the United States made a push as Ryann Neushul and
Musselman each buried power play goals for a 3-1 edge. The Netherlands got one
back late in the period for a 3-2 game headed to the second quarter.
Team USA
looked to take control in the second period as Flynn opened with a power play
goal followed by a player advantage strike from Emily Ausmus for a 5-2 lead
with 4:20 remaining in the first half. The Netherlands got one back shortly
thereafter for a 5-3 match but the United States had a strong response. With
less than 90 seconds to play in the half Kaleigh Gilchrist and Neushul scored
on natural goals for a 7-3 game at halftime. Early in the third quarter the
Netherlands got back within three but a Musselman penalty shot score pushed it
back to four at 8-4 with 5:33 to play in the third. The Netherlands closed the
quarter hitting on two of the last three goals scored to make it 9-6 in favor
of Team USA going to the fourth.
van der
Sloot hit on a penalty to open the fourth but Flynn came back with her second
goal to make it 10-7 with 4:26 to play. After that the Team USA offense went
cold and the Netherlands gathered up all the momentum. The Dutch scored two
goals in less than a minute to make it 10-9 with a little over three minutes to
play. At the 1:19 mark it was a power play goal that tied the match at 10-10.
Then with just one second left in regulation van der Sloot finished things off
with her sixth tally, the game-winner to push the Netherlands to victory at
11-10. A final attempt from mid-pool by Team USA was halted as time ran out.
Team USA
went 5/9 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while the Netherlands went 4/8 on
power plays and 2/2 on penalties.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 10
(3, 4, 2, 1) J. Flynn 2, R. Neushul 2, M. Musselman 2, E. Ausmus 1, K.
Gilchrist 1, R. Fattal 1, J. Raney 1
NED 11
(2, 1, 3, 5) S. van der Sloot 6, V. Sevenich 2, S. van de Kraats 1, B. Rogge 1,
L. Moolhuijzen 1
Saves -
USA - A. Johnson 10 - NED - L. Aarts 8
6x5 - USA
- 5/9 - NED - 4/8
Penalties
- USA - 1/2 - NED - 2/2
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