Belgrade, Serbia - August 3 - The USA Women's Youth National Team dropped their first match at the FINA Youth World Championship, losing to Greece 15-14 earlier today to close out group play. Jenna Flynn scored four goals to pace the offense with Christine Carpenter recording 10 saves in the loss. Team USA finishes Group B at 2-1 and now meets Kazakhstan tomorrow in the crossover round at 11:30am et/8:30am pt. Live streaming is available by clicking here, with live stats available by clicking here. 

Team USA started off strong opening up a 2-0 lead behinds goals from Flynn and Julia Bonaguidi. Greece scored two of the next three but Maggie Hawkins capped the scoring in the period with a goal to give the United States a 4-2 lead after one. Greece scored twice to open the second quarter, tying the match at 4-4 with 3:37 to play. The United States went back in front by two thanks to goals from Bonaguidi and Hawkins. Greece again answered with two straight, including one of five goals on the day from Foteini Tricha, tying the match at 6-6 with less than a minute to play in the half. Flynn connected on a power play with time winding down and Team USA held a 7-6 edge going into halftime.

Greece opened the second half on fire, scoring four straight goals to begin the third quarter as they went in front 10-7 with 2:26 left in the quarter. Ava Knepper scored to stop the run but Greece kept the intensity up, grabbing a 12-9 lead going to the fourth quarter. Team USA chipped away at the deficit early in the fourth with a goal from Genoa Rossi cutting the margin to one at 12-11 with 6:36 left in the match. Greece followed with three goals in a row for a 15-11 lead at the 3:19 mark. Team USA looked to stage one more rally scoring three straight to cut the deficit to one at 15-14. Maggie Johnson scored two in a row, the last coming with :52 left in the match. Team USA would get no closer however, as Greece held on for the one goal win.

The United States went 3/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties with Greece going 5/9 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties.  

Scoring - Stats
USA 14 (4, 3, 2, 5) J. Flynn 4, M. Hawkins 2, M. Johnson 2, J. Bonaguidi 2, A. Knepper 2, A. Stryker 1, G. Rossi 1
GRE 15 (2, 4, 6, 3) F. Tricha 5, D. Koureta 3, S. Tornarou 3, S. Santa 2, N. Chaldaiou 2
Saves - USA - C. Carpenter 10 - GRE - E. Konstanstopoulou 3
6x5 - USA - 3/8 - GRE - 5/9
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - GRE - 2/2