USA Women Best Kazakhstan 32-3 To Advance To Quarterfinals In Doha

Doha, Qatar - February 8 - The USA Women's National Team bested Kazakhstan 32-3 today to win Group A and advance to the quarterfinals at the 2024 World Aquatics World Championships. Rachel Fattal and Team USA captain Maggie Steffens each netted five goals to lead the way while goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson added thirteen saves in the cage. Team USA awaits its opponent and will return to action on Monday at 8:00am et/5:00am 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.

With a berth in the quarterfinals on the line, the USA Women left no doubt in this contest. Thirty seconds into the game, Tara Prentice started the scoring. Maddie Musselman and Steffens followed with goals on the counterattack and Team USA was rolling. Jenna Flynn, Ryann Neushul, Steffens, Emily Ausmus, and Kaleigh Gilchrist all put home goals to finish the quarter with an 8-0 lead. Fattal began the second period with a pair of goals sandwiched around another score from Prentice. Steffens put the Americans ahead by a dozen before Ausmus and Jewel Roemer converted extra-player opportunities. Gilchrist and Flynn each deposited another leading into the half where Team USA held a 16-0 advantage.

In the second half, the United States brought more of the same energy. Neushul, Jordan Raney, Fattal (2), Steffens, and Ausmus scored to start the third quarter before Kazakhstan finally scored its first goal. Roemer, Prentice, and Fattal ended the quarter with scores to give Team USA a 25-1 lead after three. In the final frame, the United States coasted to the finish line. Steffens, Flynn (2), Neushul, Roemer, and Raney all scored as did Denise Mammolito which meant every position player on the roster scored for the Americans. Kazakhstan added two goals late to set the final score at 32-3 in favor of Team USA.

The United States went 8/8 on power plays and 4/5 on penalties while Kazakhstan went 2/3 on power plays with no penalties attempted.

Scoring - Scoresheet
USA 32 (8, 8, 9, 7) R. Fattal 5, M. Steffens 5, J. Flynn 4, T. Prentice 3, R. Neushul 3, J. Roemer 3, E. Ausmus 3, K. Gilchrist 2, J. Raney 2, M. Musselman 1, D. Mammolito 1
KAZ 3 (0, 0, 1, 2) M. Rakhmanova 1, A. Mirshina 1, A. Tsoy 1
6x5 - USA - 8/8 - KAZ - 2/3
Penalties - USA - 4/5 - KAZ 0/0
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 13 - KAZ - M. Martynenko 4, V. Kolesnichenko 1