Women's Youth National Team Outlasts Hungary 13-12 To Begin World Aquatics U18 Championships
Chengdu, China - September 16 - The U.S. Women's Youth National Team defeated Hungary 13-12 to open group play at the 2024 World Aquatics U18 Water Polo Championships. A replay of the game can be accessed here. Team USA returns to the pool tomorrow morning against Australia at 5:30am et/2:30am pt.
This opening game was level at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 in the first half with Team USA taking the lead at 4-3 when Amber Nowaczek put home her second goal of the contest. Kata Hajdu answered with an early hat trick for Hungary and had the Europeans ahead 6-4 before Allison Cohen responded from five meters for a 6-5 deficit at the break.
United States captain Lucy Haaland-Ford knotted things up one minute into the third period and put Team USA ahead soon after. Her counterpart, Dominika Kardos, responded for 7-7. The Hungarians did not stop there as Zsofi Horvath and Emma Gulyas-Oldal had them ahead 9-7 after three. It was all Team USA in the final quarter as Hungary could not find the back of the net while Nowaczek and Haaland-Ford both scored to secure the shootout.
It was 3-3 in the shootout before each team had a goal saved and then Kardos had her shot saved, leaving Haaland-Ford to clinch a 13-12 victory for the Americans that secures just two points for winning via shootout.
Team USA went 0/1 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Hungary went 3/7 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 13 (1, 4, 2, 2, 4)
HUN 12 (1, 5, 3, 0, 3)
6x5 - USA - 0/1 - HUN - 3/7
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - HUN - 1/1
This opening game was level at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 in the first half with Team USA taking the lead at 4-3 when Amber Nowaczek put home her second goal of the contest. Kata Hajdu answered with an early hat trick for Hungary and had the Europeans ahead 6-4 before Allison Cohen responded from five meters for a 6-5 deficit at the break.
United States captain Lucy Haaland-Ford knotted things up one minute into the third period and put Team USA ahead soon after. Her counterpart, Dominika Kardos, responded for 7-7. The Hungarians did not stop there as Zsofi Horvath and Emma Gulyas-Oldal had them ahead 9-7 after three. It was all Team USA in the final quarter as Hungary could not find the back of the net while Nowaczek and Haaland-Ford both scored to secure the shootout.
It was 3-3 in the shootout before each team had a goal saved and then Kardos had her shot saved, leaving Haaland-Ford to clinch a 13-12 victory for the Americans that secures just two points for winning via shootout.
Team USA went 0/1 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Hungary went 3/7 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 13 (1, 4, 2, 2, 4)
HUN 12 (1, 5, 3, 0, 3)
6x5 - USA - 0/1 - HUN - 3/7
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - HUN - 1/1
