Salvador, Brazil - August 14 - The USA Junior Women beat Croatia 24-6 today at the World Aquatics U20 World Championships. Meghan McAninch scored five and was named player of the match while Lauren Steele and Christine Carpenter combined for 12 saves in net. Team USA advances to the semifinals on Friday at 6pm et/3pm pt against the winner of Netherlands-Italy. 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.
Team USA struck first when Julia Bonaguidi rang the register on the opening possession of the game followed by Allison Cohen skipping home the Americans' second score. Croatia would level the score behind its own pair of goals before Emily Ausmus put the United States back on top with a nice sidearm skip shot. McAninch doubled the advantage before Cohen rose up and fired home her second score. Then it was McAninch again prior to Croatia netting its third on the day to send this contest to the second quarter at 6-3.
Ausmus scored on a counter attack to begin the second and then Cohen scored once again to register a hat trick on the afternoon. The Croatian side was able to sink a long range shot but Charlotte Raisin answered on the other end to regain a five-goal cushion. Midway through the period, Croatia got a skip shot to fall before Rosalie Hassett broke free on the counter attack for another American goal. Raisin scored again late to give Team USA an 11-5 lead at the break.
On the first possession of the second half, Bonaguidi muscled one through the defense and she recorded a hat trick on the ensuing possession with another goal. Next it was Ausmus drawing a penalty and converting on the five meter attempt before another sweet sidearm strike gave Team USA a double digit lead. Midway through the third, Raisin registered a hat trick with her third score coming on another counter attack opportunity and then McAninch fired a cross cage shot into the back of the net for yet another American hat trick. From there, Hassett scored her second before Croatia finally got on the scoreboard in the quarter to leave the score at 18-6 entering the final frame of play.
The fourth quarter brought much of the same from both sides. Quinn Healy, McAninch (2), Raisin, Cohen, and Kamryn Barone all scored for the United States to set the final score at 24-6.
Team USA went 2/3 on power plays and 4/4 on penalties while Croatia went 2/13 on power plays and 0/1 on penalties.
Scoring - Stats
USA 24 (6, 5, 7, 6) M. McAninch 5, E. Ausmus 4, A. Cohen 4, C. Raisin 4, J. Bonaguidi 3, R. Hassett 2, K. Barone 1, Q. Healy 1
CRO 6 (3, 2, 1, 0) J. Butic 3, I. Rozic 2, R. Glas 1
Saves - USA - L. Steele 9, C. Carpenter 3 - CRO - L. Medvesek 2, E. Hanza 1
6x5 - USA - 2/3 - CRO - 2/13
Penalties - USA - 4/4 - CRO - 0/1
