USA Women Take Fourth In Paris Following Heartbreaking 11-10 Loss To The Netherlands
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
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
