USA Women Open Play in Long Beach With 16-13 Win Over Italy

Long Beach, CA - December 18 - The USA Women's National Team defeated Italy at Long Beach City College earlier today, 16-13. Ryann Neushul and Jenna Flynn led the way with three goals each for the United States as Ashleigh Johnson recorded seven saves in net. Team USA will play Spain tomorrow night at 9pm et/6pm pt. The match can be streamed by clicking here. Tickets for the series in Long Beach are available by clicking here.

Team USA got off to a great start in the opening quarter. Neushul, Jordan Raney, and Emma Lineback all scored for the United States as Sofia Giuistini added one for Italy to make the score 3-1 after the first period. Italy began the second quarter with a pair of goals from Silvia Avegno and Dafne Bettini before Agnese Cocchiere also converted. The Americans got three of their own in the period from Rachel Fattal, Denise Mammolito, and Flynn to hold a two-goal halftime advantage, 6-4.

The third quarter saw ten total goals scored by the two sides, five each way. Jovana Sekulic, Emily Ausmus, Flynn (2), and Neushul scored for Team USA while Chiara Tabani, Claudia Marletta (2), Giuistini, and Cocchiere found the back of the net for Italy and the United States led 11-9 after three periods. In the final frame, the Americans put the game out of reach with another handful of goals from Jewel Roemer (2), Fattal, Tara Prentice, and Neushul. Giuditta Galardi, Marletta, and Roberta Bianconi (2) pushed across four for the Italians but it was not enough as Team USA claimed victory, 16-13.

The United States went 8/11 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties while Italy went 3/13 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.

Scoring - Stats via 6-8 Sports
USA 16 (3, 3, 5, 5) R. Neushul 3, J. Flynn 3, R. Fattal 2, J. Roemer 2, E. Ausmus 1, T. Prentice 1, J. Sekulic 1, D. Mammolito 1, J. Raney 1, E. Lineback 1
ITA 13 (1, 3, 5, 4) C. Marletta 3, S. Giuistini 2, R. Bianconi 2, A. Cocchiere 2, C. Tabani 1, G. Galardi 1, S. Avegno 1, D. Bettini 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 7 - ITA - C. Banchelli 3
6x5 - USA - 8/11 - ITA - 3/13
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - ITA - 1/1