USA Women Downed By Australia In Shootout; Will Play For Bronze In Paris
Paris, France - August 8 - The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team saw their bid for a fourth straight Olympic title end tonight in Paris as Australia rallied to defeat Team USA 14-13 in a shootout. The United States held leads of 5-2 and 8-6 but Australia never quit, forcing the extra session and winning on a blocked shot in the sixth round of shooting. Maddie Musselman and Jenna Flynn each scored two goals in the loss with Ashleigh Johnson adding 12 saves. For the first time since 2004, Team USA will not advance to the gold medal final and now prepares to meet the Netherlands for Bronze on Saturday at 10:35am local time/4:35am et/1:35am pt. The match will stream LIVE on Peacock with E! replaying the match starting at 3am pacific time. Click here for more broadcast details. Click here for more on USA Water Polo at the Paris Olympic Games.
Team USA started off strong opening up a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Musselman connected on a penalty shot score early and Flynn followed with a power play strike at the 2:11 mark to snare the lead. Charlize Andrews came back moments later to make it a 2-1 game after eight minutes. Halfway through the second quarter it was Musselman again to make it 3-1 in favor of Team USA. Australia got back within one at 3-2 but Jovana Sekulic corralled a rebound on the inside for the put back and a 4-2 lead. With time winding down in the half it was Emily Ausmus getting free on the counter attack for the score and a 5-2 edge at intermission.
Australia roared back in the third quarter powered entirely on offense by Abby Andrews. Andrews ripped off three straight goals to open the quarter, tying the match at 5-5 with 2:48 to play. Flynn stopped the run with a score to give the United States the lead back at 6-5. That was short-lived as Andrews came right back with her fourth for a 6-6 game. Maggie Steffens had the last word in the third, converting on a power play with less than 30 seconds in the quarter for a 7-6 advantage. Early in the fourth quarter Rachel Fattal pushed the lead back to two goals at 8-6 on a power play goal. Team USA wouldn't be able to find the net for the rest of regulation as Australia staged one more comeback. Bronte Halligan scored two goals over the next several minutes to tie the game at 8-8 with 2:54 to play. Each team had opportunities to re-take the lead but regulation ended even at 8-8 and it was off to the shootout.
In the shootout each side was perfect through five rounds. In the sixth round things returned to the start of the order. Zoe Arancini scored to put Australia up one and then Gabriella Palm came through with a game-winning block on Musselman to confirm the 14-13 victory.
Team USA went 4/10 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties in regulation while Australia went 2/7 on power plays with no penalties attempted in regulation.
Scoring - Stats
USA 13 (2, 2, 3, 1) (5) M. Musselman 2, J. Flynn 2, R. Fattal 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Sekulic 1, E. Ausmus 1
AUS 14 (1, 1, 4, 2) (6) A. Andrews 4, B. Halligan 2, C. Andrews 1, Z. Arancini 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 12 - AUS - G. Palm 14
6x5 - USA - 4/10 - AUS - 2/7
Penalties (regulation) - USA - 1/2 - AUS - 0/0
Penalties (shootout) - USA - 5/6 - AUS - 6/6
Team USA started off strong opening up a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Musselman connected on a penalty shot score early and Flynn followed with a power play strike at the 2:11 mark to snare the lead. Charlize Andrews came back moments later to make it a 2-1 game after eight minutes. Halfway through the second quarter it was Musselman again to make it 3-1 in favor of Team USA. Australia got back within one at 3-2 but Jovana Sekulic corralled a rebound on the inside for the put back and a 4-2 lead. With time winding down in the half it was Emily Ausmus getting free on the counter attack for the score and a 5-2 edge at intermission.
Australia roared back in the third quarter powered entirely on offense by Abby Andrews. Andrews ripped off three straight goals to open the quarter, tying the match at 5-5 with 2:48 to play. Flynn stopped the run with a score to give the United States the lead back at 6-5. That was short-lived as Andrews came right back with her fourth for a 6-6 game. Maggie Steffens had the last word in the third, converting on a power play with less than 30 seconds in the quarter for a 7-6 advantage. Early in the fourth quarter Rachel Fattal pushed the lead back to two goals at 8-6 on a power play goal. Team USA wouldn't be able to find the net for the rest of regulation as Australia staged one more comeback. Bronte Halligan scored two goals over the next several minutes to tie the game at 8-8 with 2:54 to play. Each team had opportunities to re-take the lead but regulation ended even at 8-8 and it was off to the shootout.
In the shootout each side was perfect through five rounds. In the sixth round things returned to the start of the order. Zoe Arancini scored to put Australia up one and then Gabriella Palm came through with a game-winning block on Musselman to confirm the 14-13 victory.
Team USA went 4/10 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties in regulation while Australia went 2/7 on power plays with no penalties attempted in regulation.
Scoring - Stats
USA 13 (2, 2, 3, 1) (5) M. Musselman 2, J. Flynn 2, R. Fattal 1, M. Steffens 1, J. Sekulic 1, E. Ausmus 1
AUS 14 (1, 1, 4, 2) (6) A. Andrews 4, B. Halligan 2, C. Andrews 1, Z. Arancini 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 12 - AUS - G. Palm 14
6x5 - USA - 4/10 - AUS - 2/7
Penalties (regulation) - USA - 1/2 - AUS - 0/0
Penalties (shootout) - USA - 5/6 - AUS - 6/6
