Doha, Qatar - February 4 - The USA Women's National Team opened play at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships with a 10-8 victory over the Netherlands in Group A competition.
Rachel Fattal was named player of the match and scored two goals in the victory. She was aided on the offensive end by
Tara Prentice and
Jordan Raney who also scored two goals while
Ashleigh Johnson added six saves in net. Team USA returns to play on Tuesday when they meet Brazil at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. Live streaming is available via Peacock by
clicking here (subscription required) with live stats from Total Water Polo by
clicking here. Omega Timing provides official post game stats, access their results by
clicking here.
It was another back and forth battle between Team USA and the Netherlands in World Championship play as the Dutch struck early in the first for a 1-0 edge.
Ryann Neushul got Team USA on the board moments later before the Netherlands retook the lead on their next possession at the midway point of the opening period. Team USA delivered the next two goals with Fattal and
Emily Ausmus hitting to secure a 3-2 edge after one. The offense kept clicking in the second period with
Maddie Musselman and Fattal finding the cage to expand the lead to 5-2 with 3:54 left in the half. After the Netherlands scored two straight to claw back within one, Raney converted on the power play with 1:21 left to make it 6-4. The Netherlands had the final word as Simone van de Kraats had one of her four goals on the day, making it a 6-5 game at intermission.
The third quarter made a major difference as the United States outscored the Netherlands 3-1. Prentice and Raney opened the scoring in the period to build an 8-5 edge. The Netherlands scored on a power play near the five minute mark but Team USA had a response ready. A few minutes later it was
Maggie Steffens hitting on the 6x5 out of a timeout for a 9-6 lead going to the fourth. The first half of the fourth was a scoreless affair, Prentice changed that with her second tally of the day with 3:46 to go for a 10-6 lead. The Netherlands looked to stage a rally but could only get two goals back and would get no closer than 10-8 as Team USA took the victory.
The United States went 5/8 on power plays with no penalties taken while the Netherlands went 4/9 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring -
Scoresheet
USA 10 (3, 3, 3, 1) R. Fattal 2, T. Prentice 2, J. Raney 2, R. Neushul 1, E. Ausmus 1, M. Musselman 1, M. Steffens 1
NED 8 (2, 3, 1, 2) S. van de Kraats 4, K. Joustra 2, L. Rogge 1, C. van der Sloot 1
6x5 - USA - 5/8 - NED - 4/9
Penalties - USA - 0/0 - NED 1/1
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 6 - NED - L. Aarts 12
