Rally Falls Short For USA Women As They Lose To Spain 13-11 In Paris
Paris, France - July 29 - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team suffered just their second loss in Olympic Games play over the last 12 years, dropping a 13-11 match to Spain earlier today. Jordan Raney scored the first two goals of her Olympic career and Ashleigh Johnson added 13 saves but Team USA couldn't come all the way back from a five-goal deficit in the second half. Bea Ortiz turned in a stellar performance for Spain scoring five goals in the win. Team USA returns to the pool on Wednesday when they meet Italy at 6:30pm local time/12:30pm et/9:30am pt. The match is currently scheduled to air on USA Network on a 30 minute delay but will stream LIVE on Peacock. Click here for more broadcast details. Click here for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games.
Team USA got off to a good start as captain Maggie Steffens was able to convert for a 1-0 lead early. After Spain tied the match moment later, it was time for Raney to shine as she hit on two straight to build a 3-1 edge late in the period. Spain got a goal back with just about a minute remaining to make it a 3-2 game going to the second. Spain tied the match up early in the second quarter and then the two teams spent the rest of the period trading scores. Spain stepped in front 4-3 for their first advantage and then it was Team USA chasing the Spaniards for the rest of the quarter. Goals from Jewel Roemer and Jovana Sekulic helped Team USA keep pace but Spain took a 6-5 lead into the break.
The third quarter had some major swings. To start off it was Ortiz connecting on four goals in the period to help Spain build a large cushion at 11-6 with 3:31 to play. Team USA showed their resilience as they immediately began to battle back. Tara Prentice and Maddie Musselman scored to knock the deficit down to three. Then with just second to play in the quarter it was Jenna Flynn converting on a power play goal to make it 11-9 after three.
With 5:35 to play in the match Kaleigh Gilchrist delivered a big strike to get Team USA back within one at 11-10. Spain came back with a goal moments later and then thwarted multiple power play tries for Team USA. Spain added another goal with less than 20 seconds to play, followed by an Ashleigh Johnson 7-on-6 goal that didn't factor in the decision as Spain secured the two goal win.
Spain went 4/7 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while Team USA went 5/11 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
ESP 13 (2, 4, 5, 2) B. Ortiz 5, M. Garcia 2, A. Espar 1, P. Pena 1, E. Ruiz 1, P. Crespi 1, J. Forca 1. P. Leiton 1
USA 11 (3, 2, 4, 2) J. Raney 2, J. Roemer 1, J. Sekulic 1, K. Gilchrist 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Flynn 1, R. Fattal 1, T. Prentice 1, M. Musselman 1, A. Johnson 1
Saves - ESP - M. Terre 7 - USA - A. Johnson 13
6x5 - ESP - 4/7 - USA - 5/11
Penalties - ESP - 1/2 - USA - 2/3
Team USA got off to a good start as captain Maggie Steffens was able to convert for a 1-0 lead early. After Spain tied the match moment later, it was time for Raney to shine as she hit on two straight to build a 3-1 edge late in the period. Spain got a goal back with just about a minute remaining to make it a 3-2 game going to the second. Spain tied the match up early in the second quarter and then the two teams spent the rest of the period trading scores. Spain stepped in front 4-3 for their first advantage and then it was Team USA chasing the Spaniards for the rest of the quarter. Goals from Jewel Roemer and Jovana Sekulic helped Team USA keep pace but Spain took a 6-5 lead into the break.
The third quarter had some major swings. To start off it was Ortiz connecting on four goals in the period to help Spain build a large cushion at 11-6 with 3:31 to play. Team USA showed their resilience as they immediately began to battle back. Tara Prentice and Maddie Musselman scored to knock the deficit down to three. Then with just second to play in the quarter it was Jenna Flynn converting on a power play goal to make it 11-9 after three.
With 5:35 to play in the match Kaleigh Gilchrist delivered a big strike to get Team USA back within one at 11-10. Spain came back with a goal moments later and then thwarted multiple power play tries for Team USA. Spain added another goal with less than 20 seconds to play, followed by an Ashleigh Johnson 7-on-6 goal that didn't factor in the decision as Spain secured the two goal win.
Spain went 4/7 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties while Team USA went 5/11 on power plays and 2/3 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
ESP 13 (2, 4, 5, 2) B. Ortiz 5, M. Garcia 2, A. Espar 1, P. Pena 1, E. Ruiz 1, P. Crespi 1, J. Forca 1. P. Leiton 1
USA 11 (3, 2, 4, 2) J. Raney 2, J. Roemer 1, J. Sekulic 1, K. Gilchrist 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Flynn 1, R. Fattal 1, T. Prentice 1, M. Musselman 1, A. Johnson 1
Saves - ESP - M. Terre 7 - USA - A. Johnson 13
6x5 - ESP - 4/7 - USA - 5/11
Penalties - ESP - 1/2 - USA - 2/3
