Salvador, Brazil - August 16 - The USA Women's Junior National Team outlasted Spain 16-15 to claim gold at the World Aquatics U20 World Championships. It's the fifth World Championship title for the Junior Women and first since 2015.
Lucy Haaland-Ford scored four goals in the final with
Christine Carpenter adding eight save. Haaland-Ford earned player of the match honors for the final.
Emily Ausmus scored two goals in the final and earned tournament MVP honors. Team USA finishes 6-0 in Brazil with wins over Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Italy 2x and Spain. Watch a full replay of the match by
clicking here.
Team USA opened with a strong start getting a power play goal from
Kamryn Barone in the opening thirty seconds of the match. Ausmus delivered her first goal moments later on a penalty shot strike for a 2-0 advantage with 5:11 to go in the quarter. Spain battled back with two in a row to tie the match before
Julia Bonaguidi gave the United States the lead back at 3-2 with 1:10 remaining in the first. Spain had the final word as Carlota Penalver scored her third goal of the quarter to even the match at 3-3 going to the second.
Spain was the aggressor in the second quarter taking their first lead of the day at 4-3. They went ahead 5-4 with 3:41 to play in the first half before
Charlotte Raisin and
Allison Cohen answered with goals for a 6-5 edge with :35 to play in the half. Spain had a power play goal right before the end of the half to even the match at 6-6 going into the break. In the third the teams continued to trade goals and the lead. Spain went ahead 7-6 early and again at 8-7 before Team USA started to hit their stride. Bonaguidi tied the match at 8-8 and then
Rosalie Hassett put the team up 10-9 with 2:55 to play. Haaland-Ford finished the quarter with a flourish scoring two straight to give the United States a 12-10 lead late in the period for their largest lead since the first quarter.
After Spain scored once more to end the third, Haaland-Ford kept it rolling in the fourth with her third straight to make it 13-11 in favor of Team USA. Ausmus followed with her second tally of the day for a 14-11 lead. Spain tried to battle back but the United States always had an answer. Haaland-Ford hit again for a 15-12 lead and then Barone put the team up 16-13 with 2:12 to go in the match. Spain made one more push, scoring two final goals to draw within one but would get no closer.
Team USA went 4/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Spain went 2/10 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties.
Scoring -
Stats
USA 16 (3, 3, 6, 4) L. Haaland-Ford 4, J. Bonaguidi 3, E. Ausmus 2, C. Raisin 2, K. Barone 2, A. Cohen 1, M. McAninch 1, R. Hassett 1
ESP 15 (3, 3, 5, 4) I. Casado 5, C. Penalver 4, I. Piralkova 3, J. Cereijo 1, A. Munoz 1, M. Claveria 1
Saves - USA - C. Carpenter 8 - ESP - R. Diaz 7
6x5 - USA - 4/8 - ESP - 2/10
Penalties - USA - 2/2 - ESP - 2/2
