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Goleta, CA - April 7 - The USA Women's National Team returned to competition earlier today for the first time since claiming the World Championship in Qatar in February. They showed no signs of rust picking up a 10-4 win over Australia at Dos Pueblos High School. Captain
Maggie Steffens powered the offense with four goals while
Ashleigh Johnson was extremely stingy in goal, piling up 15 saves. The two teams return to play on Tuesday at Long Beach City College with a 6pm pt start. The match will stream LIVE on Overnght.com.
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Team USA showed off their balance early as four different scorers found the cage in the opening eight minutes.
Maddie Musselman got things started with a power play goal followed by a natural goal from
Rachel Fattal. Then
Jordan Raney converted as a deflected shot found the net for a quick 3-0 lead. Australia broke through moments later but Dos Pueblos graduated
Ryann Neushul thrilled the home crowd with a score for a 4-1 edge. Charlize Andrews hit for Australia on a 6-on-5 in the final moments of the first to make it a two-goal game going to the second.
In the second period the Team USA women locked things down pitching a shutout over the next eight minutes. Steffens scored early in the second quarter and then things went quite on the offensive end. It wasn't until with 1:25 left in the half before the United States found the goal again, this time on a Musselman power play. Steffens followed with a player advantage score of her own for a 7-2 lead at the break.
Australia started to make a push in the third quarter scoring two straight to close within three at 7-4 with 3:47 left in the period. The Aussies kept Team USA off the board in the third but couldn't anymore offense and trailed by three headed to the fourth. Steffens and Team USA left no doubt about the result as the three-time Olympic champ scored twice in the opening ninety seconds of the quarter for a 9-4 advantage. Raney added on a penalty shot score a few minutes later and Team USA cruised to the 10-4 win.
Team USA went 5/11 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Australia went 2/4 on power plays with no penalties attempted.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 10 (4, 3, 0, 3) M. Steffens 4, M. Musselman 2, J. Raney 2, R. Neushul 1, R. Fattal 1
AUS 4 (2, 0, 2, 0) C. Andrews 1, B. Halligan 1, E. Armit 1, D. Jackovich
Saves - USA - A. Johnson 15 - AUS - G. Palm 3, G. Longman 1
6x5 - USA - 5/11 - AUS - 2/4
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - AUS 0/0
