July 26 - Irvine, CA - The U.S. Women's Youth National Team won the gold medal at the 2022 Pythia Cup in Itea, Greece! Team USA went 3-1 in the tournament, including a 12-8 victory over Hungary in the gold medal final.

In their opening contest, Team USA faced the Netherlands. The Netherlands gave the Americans their toughest game of the tournament and only loss in Greece by a final score of 10-11. Emily Ausmus and Jenna Flynn each recorded a hat trick in the opening loss while four other athletes managed one goal a piece (Julia Bonaguidi, Margaret Hawkins, Margaret Johnson, and Ella Woodhead). Christine Carpenter recorded seven saves in net during the loss.

Team USA bounced back from the loss with their most complete performance of the weekend in a 17-7 win against Australia. Ausmus led the way for the United States again with four goals while Flynn and Julianne Snyder added three each in a big offensive performance. Bonaguidi and Quinn Healy netted two goals for Team USA as Johnson, Ava Stryker, and Woodhead each put one home as well. The Americans' defense won the day in this game, holding Australia without a goal through the entire first half.

Next on the schedule was the host nation Greece and the two countries played a close game throughout with Team USA ultimately prevailing 12-11. Flynn continued her scoring prowess in the tournament with three goals scored to lead the United States while Ausmus, Johnson, and Stryker scored a pair of goals each. Rachel Gazzaniga, Healy, and Woodhead all got one to go and Carpenter notched 13 saves in the cage to hold off the Greeks just enough for the victory.

That left the gold medal match versus Hungary as the final game in Itea. Team USA claimed the gold in a 12-8 win behind yet another strong showing from Flynn, who led the way with five goals scored. Snyder and Woodhead scored twice and Ausmus, Bonaguidi, and Stryker added one each for the Americans. The United States was able to take advantage of their 6-on-5 opportunities to the tune of 6-9 on power plays while the defense held the Hungarians to 8-28 shooting.

The U.S. Women's Youth National Team will be back in action at the upcoming FINA Women's Youth World Championships set for July 31 to August 8 in Belgrade, Serbia. The USA Women are now fresh off two gold medals with one coming at the Pan American Junior Water Polo Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana earlier this month before the Pythia Cup in Greece.