Budapest, Hungary - July 2 - The USA Women's National Team won the Gold Medal at the FINA World Championships with a 9-7 win over Hungary earlier today in Budapest!
Maddie Musselman scored five goals and was named MVP of the game while
Ryann Neushul added three goals of her own in the victory.
Ashleigh Johnson recorded 10 saves in net on her way to being named Top Goalkeeper of the tournament. Both Musselman and Johnson were named to the Media All-Star team as well in Budapest.
The USA Women have now won their fourth straight FINA World Championship and seventh in program history, joining titles in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Team USA saw Hungary score the first goal of the game from Greta Gurisatti two and a half minutes into the opening quarter. Musselman had an answer for the Americans as she converted on two player advantages to close the quarter with a 2-1 lead. The teams split four goals in the second quarter as Rita Keszthelyi and Gurisatti found the back of the net for the hosts while Musselman and
Maggie Steffens scored for Team USA. The United States led at halftime, 4-3.
In the second half, Neushul opened the scoring with a beautiful lob shot for the Americans before Gurisatti scored on a player advantage for the Hungarians. Musselman and Neushul both found the back of the net again to wind down the third quarter and put Team USA up 7-4 headed to the final frame. Neushul scored a third time to start the fourth quarter and give the United States an 8-4 lead. Hungary would battle back into this one from that point. First, Zsuzsanna Mate would convert on a player advantage before Dorottya Szilagyi and Keszthelyi both scored to cut the deficit to 8-7. That was as close as the hosts would get. With 49 seconds remaining, Gurisatti was excluded with substitution and Team USA drew a penalty. Musselman stepped up to bury the penalty shot and clinch the 9-7 win.
The United States went 3/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalty shots while Hungary went 3/11 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 9 (2, 2, 3, 2) M. Musselman 5, R. Neushul 3, M. Steffens 1
HUN 7 (1, 2, 1, 3) G. Gurisatti 3, R. Keszthelyi 2, Z. Mate 1, D. Szilagyi 1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 10 - HUN - A. Magyari 7
6x5 - USA - 3/8 - HUN - 3/11
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - HUN - 0/0
