Doha, Qatar - February 6 - The USA Women's National Team defeated Brazil 21-5 today in group play at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships. Team USA captain
Maggie Steffens posted five goals to lead the way while
Maddie Musselman,
Tara Prentice, and
Jovana Sekulic all notched three scores.
Jordan Raney was named player of the match and scored once in the win as goalkeeper
Amanda Longan added nine saves in net. Team USA returns to action on Thursday when they play Kazakhstan at 9:30am et/6:30am 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.
Team USA started quickly and never looked back. In the second possession of the game, the Americans earned a penalty shot and Musselman buried the five meter opportunity to strike first. Brazil had an answer via a nifty backhand from its center but Sekulic put the United States right back on top with a hard-fought goal from two meters. Brazil leveled the score at 2-2 on its next trip as the two sides went back and forth early. Midway through the first, Sekulic earned another penalty shot for the Americans and Steffens converted on the attempt to regain the lead. Jenna Flynn doubled the advantage before Prentice got in on the action. After an unforced turnover led to another goal from Steffens, Team USA capped the quarter with a goal from Rachel Fattal and led 7-2 after one.
Musselman found Steffens on a perfectly executed counterattack to begin the second period. On the next trip up the pool, Musselman fired one in herself before Steffens was in perfect position for another score from close range, this time off an assist from Ryann Neushul. A few minutes later, Sekulic worked inside for another score before Prentice did the same to give the United States a double digit lead. With 0:36 left in the half, Brazil scored to avoid being shut out in the period, however, Steffens scored again on a power play with seconds to go and Team USA held a 13-3 advantage at the half.
The United States kept it going in the third quarter, beginning with Prentice finding the back of the net on a counterattack. From there, Musselman outraced the field and faked out the goalkeeper for her third of the day before Kaleigh Gilchrist connected on a picturesque lob shot and Flynn beat the goalkeeper for her second goal. The defense, led by Longan, held strong and did not allow a Brazilian goal in the quarter, sending the game into the final frame with Team USA ahead 17-3.
Raney joined the offensive explosion early in the fourth to put the Americans up by fifteen. Two minutes into the quarter, Steffens found Jewel Roemer for Roemer's first goal of the contest. With just over three minutes left, Brazil earned a penalty shot and knocked it down. On the ensuing possession, Gilchrist went right over the goalkeeper's head for her second score. As time wound down, Sekulic recorded a hat trick and Brazil found one more goal to set the final score, 21-5.
The United States went 5/5 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Brazil went 1/2 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Scoresheet
USA 21 (7, 6, 4, 4) M. Steffens 5, M. Musselman 3, T. Prentice 3, J. Sekulic 3, J. Flynn 2, K. Gilchrist 2, R. Fattal 1, J. Raney 1, J. Roemer 1
BRA 5 (2, 1, 0, 2) L. Belorio 2, J. Cavalvante 1, S. Ferreira 1, D. Silva 1
6x5 - USA - 5/5 - BRA - 1/2
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - BRA 1/1
Saves - USA - A. Longan 9 - BRA - H. Scalabrin 4, I. Souza 1
