Salvador, Brazil - August 11 - Team USA claimed a hard-fought 15-14 victory over Greece after a penalty shootout at the World Aquatics U20 World Championship. Emily Ausmus scored six to lead the offense while Christine Carpenter was named player of the match with 15 saves, including three straight stops in the penalty shootout to setup the win. Team USA returns to the pool on Tuesday against Italy at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Live streaming of all matches is available through the World Aquatics YouTube page by clicking here. Live stats of all matches are provided from Microplus by clicking here.
The Greek side got things started with the game's first goal but Ausmus responded for Team USA just over two minutes in. Greece retook the lead quickly and extended it to 3-1 before Ausmus found the back of the net once again. The remainder of the quarter saw Greece double its advantage to 4-2 headed into the second.
Team USA was whistled for a penalty and the Greeks converted from five meters to begin the second period. Julia Bonaguidi scored to narrow the deficit and then Rosalie Hassett brought the United States within one. Late in the half, Greece skipped one home to go ahead 6-4 at the break.
Early on in the third, Ausmus scored her third on the day when she went bar in from long range. Both offenses went dormant for minutes until Greece tacked on two more in the back half of the quarter. Allison Cohen and Hassett would return the favor for the Americans, leaving the score at 8-7 for the Greeks after three.
Charlotte Raisin leveled the score to begin the final frame with a nice backhand shot from set before a penalty foul allowed Ausmus to give Team USA its first lead from five meters. With just under three minutes to play, Greece tied things up, and then Ausmus found the back of the net with a sidearm delivery to give the United States a one-goal lead once again. The Greeks had an answer again, tying the score at 10-10 and sending this contest into a penalty shootout.
The two sides traded goals in the penalty shootout with Ausmus converting the first, Hassett making good on the second, Bonaguidi scoring the third, and Cohen knocking down the fourth before both goalkeepers got involved. Each team's fifth and sixth shots were blocked before Team USA got it done. Carpenter came up with a third consecutive save and Hassett stepped up to fire home the game-winner.
Team USA went 1/8 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties (before the shootout) while Greece went 1/6 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties (before the shootout).
Scoring - Stats
USA 15 (2, 2, 3, 3, 5) E. Ausmus 6, R. Hassett 4, J. Bonaguidi 2, A. Cohen 2, C. Raisin 1
GRE 14 (4, 2, 2, 2, 4) F. Tricha 5, A. Karampetsou 2, N. Krassa 2, R. Saltamanika 2, D. Koureta 1, E. Kovatsevits 1, Z. Tzortzakaki 1
Saves - USA - C. Carpenter 15 - GRE - N. Kyriakopoulou 11
6x5 - USA - 1/8 - GRE - 1/6
Penalties - USA - 1/1 - GRE - 1/1
